Why Thane’s Electric Double-Decker Bus Enters Mumbai on Every Trip Before Returning
Thane Municipal Transport's electric double-decker on Route 66 briefly enters Mumbai during every trip—not to pick up or drop off passengers, but to make a U-turn at Mulund MHADA Colony before returning to Thane. Transport officials say the unusual routing is dictated by road layout and traffic management, making it a unique operational feature of the service.
Passengers travelling on Thane Municipal Transport's (TMT) Route 66 may notice an unusual feature of the journey: the electric double-decker bus briefly enters Mumbai on every trip before returning to Thane. The bus does not begin or end its passenger service in Mumbai. Instead, it crosses the city boundary solely to make a U-turn, making it one of the few municipal bus services with such an operating pattern.
The distinctive routing is not part of an extended service area but an operational necessity. According to transport officials, the road layout and traffic management arrangements near the Thane-Mumbai border make the turnaround at Mulund MHADA Colony the most practical option before the bus resumes its scheduled route in Thane.
How Route 66 Operates
The electric double-decker runs on Route 66 between Wagle Circle (Road No. 22 Naka) and Bhayanderpada via West Check Naka and Teen Haat Naka.
Each journey begins at Kopri Depot, where the bus is charged before entering service. From there, it travels to Wagle Circle and continues along its scheduled route.
Why the Bus Enters Mumbai
After crossing the Thane-Mumbai border at Check Naka, the bus proceeds into Mumbai up to Mulund MHADA Colony.
Rather than beginning or ending passenger operations there, the bus makes a U-turn and retraces its route through West Check Naka, Teen Haat Naka and Wagle Circle before continuing to Bhayanderpada.
According to transport officials, this brief entry into Mumbai is an operational requirement rather than an extension of the route.
The road layout and existing traffic management system make the U-turn at Mulund MHADA Colony the most practical option before the bus returns to Thane.
Daily Charging at Kopri Depot
At the end of its scheduled trips, the electric double-decker returns to Kopri Depot, where it is recharged before re-entering service. The depot serves as both the starting point and charging facility for the vehicle.
A Route That Has Caught Enthusiasts' Attention
The unusual operating pattern has drawn interest from public transport enthusiasts and regular commuters.
"It's a fascinating operational quirk. The Route 66 double-decker briefly enters Mumbai only to take a U-turn at Mulund MHADA Colony before returning to Thane. It's probably one of the few city bus routes that crosses a municipal boundary simply because the road layout requires it," said bus enthusiast and commuter Gandharva Purohit.
The routing highlights how infrastructure design and traffic management can influence public transport operations, even when that means crossing municipal boundaries without serving additional destinations.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 13, 2026 06:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
