Tamil Nadu approves 1,000 new air-conditioned buses for Chennai
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has sanctioned Rs 500 crore for the procurement of the buses and related infrastructure.
The Tamil Nadu government has approved the procurement of 1,000 air-conditioned buses for operation in Chennai, according to a government statement reported by Urban Acres. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has also ordered the allocation of Rs 500 crore to fund the necessary infrastructure for these vehicles.
The state has sanctioned Rs 17.99 crore to install vehicle location tracking devices in 13,490 buses and emergency alert buttons in 13,776 buses. These safety measures will be implemented across eight transport corporations, according to reports from Urban Acres and Deccan Chronicle.
The tracking and alert systems will be linked to a central control centre to allow real-time monitoring of bus locations, speeds, and routes. The Deccan Chronicle reported that the panic buttons are intended to provide immediate assistance and ensure the safety of women and children.
The government plans to create electrical and mechanical infrastructure at transport corporation depots to support the new air-conditioned fleet. The announcement did not specify the procurement schedule, bus specifications, or the number of depots to be upgraded.
Chief Minister Vijay has instructed transport corporations to speed up the implementation of both the bus procurement and the vehicle-monitoring measures. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) currently operates 355 air-conditioned buses.