Is Chennai Expanding Its Electric Bus Fleet with 135 More Buses?

Chennai, Aug 6 (NationPress) Chennai is poised to enhance its electric bus services with the introduction of 135 new electric buses from the Perumbakkam depot on August 11, just a month after the rollout of 120 e-buses from the Vyasarpadi depot. This new fleet features 55 air-conditioned buses and will operate on 13 routes, greatly improving connectivity along the IT corridor, particularly the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR).

Notable routes include Siruseri to Chennai Airport (MAA 2), CMBT to Kilambakkam (570), Broadway to Kelambakkam (102), T Nagar to Thiruporur (19), Thiruvanmiyur to Kilambakkam (95X), and Kilambakkam to Sholinganallur (555S).

A senior official from the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) of Chennai stated, "This fleet meets the specific requirements of commuters in the IT corridor, which the fleet from Vyasarpadi was unable to serve." This implementation represents Chennai's inaugural deployment of air-conditioned electric buses.

As per MTC Managing Director T. Prabhushankar, the AC buses will adhere to the standard fare structure, whereas non-AC buses will follow the deluxe fare pricing. MTC also aims to roll out an additional 170 AC electric buses in the near future. These 12-metre buses are part of a Rs 233.75 crore project. Each bus is equipped with 39 seats, four CCTV cameras, wheelchair ramps, reserved seating for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, stop-request buttons, and a kneeling feature that lowers the floor to 250mm for easier access.

All buses are GPS-enabled and come with LED-based stop notifications. The newly upgraded Perumbakkam depot, developed at a cost of Rs 49.56 crore, has the capacity to charge up to 32 buses simultaneously. Each bus boasts a range of 200 km after a two-hour charge, matching the infrastructure of the Vyasarpadi depot.

Under the operational framework, OHM will manage bus operations and driver appointments, while MTC compensates per kilometer of service. "This model enables us to better handle technological and environmental challenges and helps mitigate driver shortages," said Nedunchezhiyan, General Manager, Operations of MTC.

While the Vyasarpadi fleet currently includes three women drivers and 17 women conductors, the Perumbakkam depot is expected to onboard more women following training, according to an OHM spokesperson.

Both depots are integral to MTC’s first phase of electrification, which encompasses 625 electric buses with a budget of Rs 697 crore. Additional buses will be introduced at Central (145), Tondiarpet 1 (100), and Poonamallee (125) by February 2026. The second phase will see the addition of 800 more electric buses throughout the city.