Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will inaugurate Chennai’s ambitious electric bus service on June 30, marking a significant leap in Tamil Nadu’s sustainable urban mobility vision. The Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation (CMTC) has readied a fleet of 1,100 electric low-floor buses to cater to the city’s growing transportation needs.

This Rs 3,500 crore green initiative, supported by German financial assistance, saw its first phase tender for 500 buses floated in 2023, followed by a second procurement of 600 buses through Ashok Leyland’s subsidiary OHM Global Mobility. The first batch of these eco-friendly vehicles currently awaits deployment at Perumbakkam and Pallavan Illam depots, with charging infrastructure operational across five strategic locations including Vyasarpadi and Poonamallee.

Designed for Accessibility and Efficiency
The state-of-the-art electric buses feature revolutionary design elements prioritizing universal access and environmental conservation. Their low-floor architecture ensures seamless boarding for senior citizens and differently-abled passengers, while the silent zero-emission operation promises to reduce the city’s transport-related carbon footprint by an estimated 30%.

Transport Department officials confirm that 120 buses will commence operations immediately after the inauguration, with plans to expand the fleet to 625 buses by December 2025. The comprehensive rollout includes establishing fast-charging stations at key depots across Toandaiyarpet, Poonamallee and other locations to support round-the-clock operations.

This initiative forms part of Tamil Nadu’s broader electric mobility roadmap, with similar deployments planned for Madurai and Coimbatore using 12-meter-long intercity models.  As Chennai prepares for this transformative shift, commuters can anticipate quieter, cleaner journeys across 35 initial routes, with real-time tracking features and integrated ticketing systems expected in subsequent phases.