Mumbai: BEST To Celebrate 79th Foundation Day On August 7, Marks 100 Years Of Bus Services

Mumbai, August 6, 2026: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking will celebrate its 79th Foundation Day on Friday, August 7, with official programmes to mark BEST Day 2026.

While the undertaking officially traces its foundation to 1947, when it came under the Bombay Municipal Corporation, this year also marks a significant milestone: 100 years of BEST's bus services in Mumbai.

Foundation Day Celebrations

The celebration honours one of the city's oldest and most important public transport organisations, which continues to carry millions of passengers every day.

According to official data, BEST currently operates a fleet of 2,801 buses, of which 249 are owned by BEST, while 2,552 buses are run by private operators under the wet-lease model.

The day will be observed with events attended by senior officials, employees and other stakeholders, recognising the contribution of generations of transport workers who have kept Mumbai moving.

Century Of Bus Services

BEST's transport journey began much before its official formation. Electric tram services were introduced in 1907 by the then Bombay Electric Tramway Company Limited, replacing the earlier horse-drawn tram system that operated across the city. The organisation entered the bus transport sector in 1926, a move that transformed Mumbai's public transport network.

According to BEST enthusiast Shubham Padave, buses were initially introduced as a premium mode of transport, while trams largely catered to middle-class commuters.

From this historical perspective, 2026 completes 100 years of BEST's bus operations, making the year significant not only for the undertaking's official foundation anniversary but also for a century of bus services in Mumbai.

Official Anniversary Explained

However, BEST officially celebrates 79 years because 1947 marked the year the undertaking came under the control of the Bombay Municipal Corporation, now the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and became the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking. This transition from a private company to a municipal undertaking forms the basis of its official anniversary.

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As BEST expands its electric bus fleet and modernises services, the undertaking continues to play a crucial role in Mumbai's public transport system.

Despite the growing dependence on wet-lease buses, the organisation remains one of the city's most recognisable public institutions, connecting millions of commuters across the financial capital every day.

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