With refreshing new looks, UBO Ridez’s Victoria 2.0 Electric Carriage (E-Buggy) is making waves with its fresh new appearance and can now be spotted at various locations in Mumbai such as Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Nariman Point, and Bandra’s Bandstand. This eco-friendly battery-operated vehicle is a modern take on the traditional horse-drawn carriage, which was phased out in 2015 for the welfare of animals. The Victoria ride is a perfect way to explore South Mumbai without harming the environment or animals…
1. As of March 2021, a delightful new environmentally conscious ride is now available for use. Information regarding scheduling and pricing can be found below.
2. The Bandstand promenade in Bandra now offers a charming, eco-friendly ride that has been in operation since August 2023. Details on cost and timing can be found below.
New Victoria Electronic Buggy, Mumbai and Suburban
Experience the refreshing sea breeze of Mumbai while cruising at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. Here are the specifics :
Locations of Operation: Nariman Point, and Bandra Bandstand as of November 2023. Expected to expand the Mumbai darshan tour at many more locations by 2024.
UBO Ridez’s First Started at Nariman Point
Like Nariman point, In coming years, Public will be able to enjoy ride 40 new White & Red color combo Victoria 2.0 electric vehicles at other locations like Mumbai Suburban.
These eco-friendly vehicles are operated electronically and have a maximum speed of 20 KMPH. They offer a similar look and feel to the old Tonga (Horse Cart) that once ran at Nariman point and are provided by a company called ‘UBO Ridez’. Visitors can now enjoy the historic structures of the area while taking a joyride on these new vehicles.
This advanced technological experience offers a tour of the historical landmarks and structures in south Mumbai, resembling a compact Mumbai Darshan. Equipped with GPS-enabled audio speakers, it accurately detects your location and provides relevant historical information.
Moreover, these speakers have the added feature of Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to enjoy your personal music if desired. Unlike the traditional ‘Indian Horse Baggi’, UBO Ridez operates smoothly and safely at a minimum speed of 20 Kilometres Per Hour, while being environmentally friendly.
Co-founded by Mr. Ketan Kadam and Bollywood actor Dino Morea, their future plans include expanding the fleet of these electric buggies across Mumbai and its suburbs. In the second and third phases of their success, these buggies will take you on a captivating journey beyond Dadar, Mahim, and Bandra.
For a start, 40 such joyride e-buggy which has been trial and tested at Byculla Zoo and Borivali National Park lately.
I am uncertain about the presence of LED lights decoration on this electronic carriage as we used to observe four years ago. Dear owner, I kindly request your comments and additional information if you are reading this.
UBO Ridez Celebrity Home Tour at Bandstand Bandra
In the months of July and August in 2023, the E-Tonga electric carriage made its debut at the Bandra suburb of Mumbai, specifically at the Queen of Mumbai suburban. It was no surprise that the Bandstand area was chosen as the perfect location due to its popularity as a celebrity hotspot, with mega stars such as Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Farhan Akhtar owning homes in the area. Visitors can now enjoy a guided tour of these celebrity homes by taking a 15 to 40-minute ride on the open carriage at the Bandstand promenade, with prices starting at Rs.500 for a 15-minute ride.
E-Buggy Ride Charges & Timings
Nariman Point timings: 4:00 pm to 2:00 am (late Night).
Bandra Bandstand timings: 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm (Midnight).
The E-buggy operations at Bandstand charge Rs.500 for a 15-minute ride for a group of 5 people, as previously mentioned. However, the charges vary depending on the location. For Nariman Point, there are two types of rides available – Short and Long.
Although the exact charges are not confirmed, according to the information available, the Short ride from Gateway of India to Radio Club may cost around Rs.300 for a group of 6 people, which is the capacity of the e-buggy carriage.
On the other hand, a longer ride from Nariman Point to Pizza by the Bay at Marine Drive may cost a group of 6 people about Rs.500. A ride from Nariman Point to Girgaum Chowpatty will be a delightful long joyride along the coast with a refreshing breeze and stunning views in this new E-Tonga.
Old Tonga Driver Re-Employed
The High Court’s final ruling in June 2015 regarding Animal welfare (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act) also had a significant impact on the traditional Tonga Wala, resulting in their loss of employment. It is uncertain whether the promise of providing alternative employment was fulfilled according to the needs. However, there is good news to share once again.
As mentioned earlier, with the gradual addition of 40 Victoria 2.0 rides and more to the streets of Mumbai, additional routes and heritage sites will be covered. We will provide updates on the details as soon as we receive them. While we will certainly miss the nostalgic sound of horse-drawn tongas, sacrificing this for the sake of Animal welfare is a small price to pay.
By now, many of the 130 to 150 Tonga drivers may have already found alternative jobs. For those who still have a passion for this profession and wish to return, they may have the opportunity to ride the E-Buggy at Nariman Point promenade, which is a positive aspect of this innovative idea.
Historics of Victoria Horse Carriage in Mumbai
Approaching its centenary, Tonga in Mumbai has been the primary means of transportation in the island city, which was characterized by unpaved roads and limited cemented structures. The ubiquitous presence of ‘Bail Gadi’ (Cow Cart) and ‘Ghoda Gadi’ (Horse Carriage) on the streets offered the sole means of travel within the compact city during that era. Suburban areas such as Andheri and Borivali were quaint villages situated on the outskirts of South Mumbai, all under British rule.
The horse-drawn carriages known as Victoria rides were a common sight in Fort, CSMT (formerly known as Victoria Terminus), and Colaba long before the advent of luxurious cars and rail trams. One of the classic Bollywood movies, ‘Victoria No. 203’, featured a story about diamonds hidden inside a lamp of a beautiful-looking Horse Tonga. If you want to catch a glimpse of this tonga, check out the YouTube video titled ‘Dekha Meina Dekha’.
Numerous classic black and white era songs, such as ‘Yeh hai Bombay Meri Jaan‘, featured scenes of the old classic victoria rides of Mumbai (formerly known as ‘Bombay’). Do you recall the ‘Dhanno’ horse tonga that Basanti rode in the movie Sholay? Additionally, the song ‘Bambai Shehar ki Tujhe Sair kara Doon‘ from the film ‘Piya Ka Ghar’ contained the line ‘TumTum mein Baithegi ya Palkon Pe Bitha Doon’, and in Mumbai, this Tonga horse carriage was also referred to as a ‘TumTum’. There were many such movies and scenes, but for now, let’s enjoy this new version 2.0 e-buggy.
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