Will the TN Government Unveil a New Mini-Bus Scheme Today in Thanjavur?

Chennai, June 16 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu government is set to unveil its eagerly awaited comprehensive mini-bus scheme today, aimed at significantly improving last-mile connectivity throughout the state. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will officially launch the initiative in Thanjavur, while Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin will inaugurate the services in Theni. Health Minister Ma. Subramanian is scheduled to commence operations in Chennai, with additional cabinet ministers supervising rollouts in various districts.

The revamped scheme introduces the operation of private mini-bus services within the Greater Chennai Corporation limits—excluding the core city zones—for the very first time.

As part of this launch, twenty privately operated mini-buses are anticipated to begin services within the city of Chennai.

According to senior officials from the Transport Department, a total of 2,084 new mini-bus routes will be established across Tamil Nadu under this initiative. Furthermore, over 1,000 existing mini-bus services will be integrated into the new framework to facilitate improved coordination and regulation.

In Chennai, the rollout will kick off with nine mini-buses operating in South Chennai and eleven in North Chennai on Monday. A total of 72 routes have been earmarked in the city, comprising 33 in North Chennai and 39 in the South.

“We have received applications from private operators for all identified routes. However, route permits will only be granted once the operators present their mini-buses along with all mandatory documents,” clarified a senior department official.

The President of the Tamil Nadu Mini-Bus Owners’ Federation, K. Kodiyarasan, welcomed the government’s initiative, labeling it a “progressive step” for both operators and passengers. “While we have numerous long-standing demands, including a review of fare structures to align with current diesel prices, we support the prompt implementation of this scheme. Our requests will be formally submitted once the rollout begins,” he stated.

The scheme was originally scheduled for a May 1 launch but was postponed after the Transport Department retracted its initial notification. A new announcement has set June 16 as the revised launch date. The delay was prompted by a petition filed in the Madras High Court by the CITU-supported Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Employees Federation, which opposed the inclusion of private operators.

Key features of the scheme include an increased maximum route length of 25 km, with at least 65 percent of the route mandated to cover areas currently underserved by regular bus services. The remaining 35 percent can overlap with existing routes. The routes may also be extended to nearby public facilities such as libraries, hospitals, government offices, or schools if they fall within a one-kilometre radius of the route endpoint.