Chief Minister MK Stalin has launched 120 low floor, non air conditioned electric buses from Vyasarpadi depot, marking the Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (MTC) first electric fleet. Each bus can travel 200 km on a two hour charge and carries safety features such as thirteen panic buttons, four CCTV cameras, a public announcement system and one mobile charging point for every two seats.

An accompanying Rs 475 million charging station was also inaugurated. The buses, procured for Rs 2 billion under the World Bank  and AIIB supported Chennai Sustainable Urban Services Programme (C SUSP), feature a 400 mm floor height that can be lowered to 250 mm for disabled access. Improved ventilation includes higher window glazing and sliding panes at the rear high floor section.

The rollout is the first phase of a plan to induct 650 electric buses, with a total of 1,225 to be deployed city wide. The initial 120 have been assigned to eleven deluxe routes, supplementing rather than replacing existing services. Operated under a Gross Cost Contract, the fleet is built, run and maintained for twelve years by OHM Global Mobility, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland and SWITCH Mobility. MTC will pay Rs 77.16 per km and will staff conductors, while ticketing is handled via electronic machines.