Chennai corporation to introduce 135 more electric buses

August 6, 2025

Chennai: Chennai is set to expand its electric bus fleet with the launch of 135 new electric buses from the Perumbakkam depot on August 11, following the recent deployment of 120 electric buses from the Vyasarpadi depot. The new fleet, which includes 55 air-conditioned buses, will serve 13 routes, with a focus on improving connectivity along the IT corridor, such as the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR).

Key routes for the buses include Siruseri to Chennai Airport, CMBT to Kilambakkam, Broadway to Kelambakkam, T Nagar to Thiruporur, Thiruvanmiyur to Kilambakkam, and Kilambakkam to Sholinganallur.

An official from the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) stated that these buses are designed to meet the specific needs of commuters along the IT corridor, a demand that the Vyasarpadi fleet couldn’t fully address. This marks Chennai’s first introduction of air-conditioned electric buses.

According to MTC Managing Director T. Prabhushankar, the AC buses will operate at standard fare rates, while non-AC buses will follow a deluxe fare structure. The city plans to add 170 more AC electric buses soon as part of a Rs 233.75 crore project. These buses are 12 meters long, with 39 seats, CCTV cameras, wheelchair ramps, reserved seating for seniors and disabled persons, stop-request buttons, and a kneeling feature that lowers the bus floor to 250mm to simplify boarding.

The buses come equipped with GPS, LED stop alerts, and are charged using the upgraded Perumbakkam depot, built at a cost of Rs 49.56 crore, which can charge up to 32 buses simultaneously. Each bus has a range of 200 km after a two-hour charge, matching the capacity of the Vyasarpadi depot.

Under the current operational model, OHM handles bus operations and driver recruitment, with MTC compensating based on kilometres traveled. This setup aims to improve management of technological and environmental risks, as well as address driver shortages. The fleet at Vyasarpadi currently includes three women drivers and 17 women conductors, and the Perumbakkam depot is expected to increase its number of women drivers and conductors after training.

Both depots are part of MTC’s first phase of electrification, which plans to introduce a total of 625 electric buses costing Rs 697 crore. Additional buses will be rolled out at Central, Tondiarpet 1, and Poonamallee depots by February 2026, with a second phase set to add 800 more electric buses throughout the city.