Tamil Nadu allocates Rs 500 crore for 1,000 AC buses in Chennai
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has ordered the procurement of 1,000 air-conditioned electric buses for the Metropolitan Transport Corporation.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has ordered the procurement of 1,000 new air-conditioned electric buses for the Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), according to an official release reported by BusinessLine. The state has also sanctioned Rs 500 crore to develop the electrical and mechanical infrastructure required at bus depots to support these vehicles.
The new buses will be acquired under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model. Under this arrangement, private operators will manage the supply of buses, drivers, maintenance, and operations, while state transport undertakings will continue to provide conductors.
According to reports from Deccan Chronicle and Urban Acres, the government has also approved Rs 17.99 crore to install vehicle location tracking devices and panic buttons. These safety features will be fitted across 13,490 buses operated by eight transport corporations.
The tracking and emergency alert systems will link to a central control centre. This will allow authorities to monitor vehicle speed, routes, and real-time locations, while providing immediate assistance when panic buttons are pressed to ensure the safety of women and children.
The government statement, reported by Dinamalar via Urban Acres, noted that Chief Minister Vijay has instructed transport corporations to speed up the implementation of both the bus procurement and the monitoring measures. The announcement did not specify a procurement schedule or the exact number of depots to be upgraded.