🚌 1,000 New AC Electric Buses for Chennai

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Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on 9 November 2026 ordered the purchase of 1,000 new air-conditioned electric buses for the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), which runs Chennai’s city bus service. The government also sanctioned ₹500 crore to build the electrical and mechanical infrastructure needed at MTC depots to run the new fleet.

The Order

• The purchase was announced in the 2026-27 Budget presented on 5 August, and the Chief Minister’s order now puts it into action.
• The buses will be bought during the current financial year.
• MTC has revived its tender for the 1,000 buses.

How the Buses Will Run

• The buses will run under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, in which a private operator supplies and maintains the buses and MTC pays per kilometre run.
• The ₹500 crore covers charging points, power supply and maintenance facilities at the depots.

Chennai’s Electric Fleet Today

• MTC now runs 755 electric buses — 355 air-conditioned and 400 non-AC.
• Earlier AC electric buses were put on routes to the OMR IT corridor, Chennai airport and the Kilambakkam bus terminus.
• Another batch of 620 electric buses is expected on the roads by December 2026.

Why It Matters

The government said the new buses will give Chennai a “safer, more comfortable and eco-friendly” public transport service, cut vehicle emissions and help modernise the city’s bus network.

The bus maker and the new routes have not yet been announced.