Phase 1 of a 750-bus, ₹1,337-crore electric programme — 130 low-floor AC buses for MTC and 120 buses for state transport corporations, total cost ₹290.08 crore.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay flagged off 250 new buses for state transport undertakings at the Secretariat on Tuesday, including 130 low-floor, air-conditioned electric buses for the Metropolitan Transport Corporation and 120 new buses for state transport corporations across Tamil Nadu.
The 130 AC electric buses are the first phase of a second tranche under Chennai's electric bus programme. MTC is currently operating 625 low-floor electric buses procured at a cost of ₹697 crore through five depots. The new phase plans a further 750 low-floor AC electric buses at ₹1,337 crore through seven depots — Alandur, Central Depot-II, Perambur, Padianallur, Avadi, K. K. Nagar and Iyyappanthangal.
The 130 buses launched today cost ₹234.50 crore. Of them, 80 will be operated from MTC's Alandur depot and 50 from its Central depot.
| Depot | Buses | Notable Routes |
|---|---|---|
| Alandur | 80 | Chennai Airport ↔ Siruseri IT Park · Koyambedu ↔ Kilambakkam · Tambaram West ↔ Siruseri IT Park · Airport ↔ Adyar · Ambattur ↔ Velachery and other southern/suburban corridors |
| Central Depot-II | 50 | Routes 29A (Perambur–Anna Square), 221 (MGR Central–Thiruporur), 72 (Thyagaraya Nagar–Thiruverkadu), 88Kct (Parrys Corner–Kundrathur), PP21 (Island Ground–Kilambakkam) and others |
Several of the new AC electric bus routes directly connect Chennai's major employment and transport hubs. The Airport ↔ Siruseri IT Park corridor links the international terminal to the city's largest software park, a route significant for both daily commuters and visitors. The Koyambedu ↔ Kilambakkam route connects the city's two main bus terminuses, while Ambattur ↔ Velachery crosses Chennai's industrial corridor. The Airport ↔ Adyar and Tambaram West ↔ Siruseri routes further extend the clean-air fleet into the city's southern tech belt.
Alongside the MTC electric buses, Vijay flagged off 120 new conventional buses for state transport corporations operating across Tamil Nadu's districts. These buses were part of the total 250 procured at a combined cost of ₹290.08 crore.
During the launch at the Secretariat, Vijay boarded one of the new buses and spoke to the driver and conductors about its facilities and operations. Transport Minister A. Vijay Tamilan Parthiban, Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar and senior officials were present.
Tamil Nadu has been building out its electric bus fleet since the previous government began the programme. The addition of 130 more AC electric buses — alongside yesterday's Vettri Payanam expansion of free bus travel to Express and mofussil routes from October 2 — signals the government's intention to use public transport as a simultaneous welfare and environmental tool.
Electric Buses MTC Chennai Public Transport Green Transport August 25, 2026