Chennai adds 135 e-buses, focuses on IT corridor
Key routes include Siruseri to Airport (MAA 2), CMBT to Kilambakkam (570), Broadway to Kelambakkam (102), T Nagar to Thiruporur (19), Thiruvanmiyur to Kilambakkam (95X), and Kilambakkam to Sholinganallur (555S). "This fleet meets the demands of IT corridor commuters, which the Vyasarpadi fleet did not," said MTC GM (operations) S Nedunsezhian.
This is Chennai's first batch of AC e-buses. Non-AC e-buses will follow the deluxe fare, and AC buses will use the regular AC fare, said MTC MD T Prabhushankar.
MTC plans to add 170 more AC e-buses. The buses were set up by OHM Global Mobility (an Ashok Leyland subsidiary) for 233.75crore. Each 12m bus has 39 seats, four CCTV cameras, wheelchair ramps, reserved seats for the elderly and disabled, stop-request buttons, and a kneeling function lowered to 250mm.
GPS-connected systems provide LED-based stop alerts.
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Perumbakkam depot, upgraded at a cost 49.56crore, can simultaneously charge 32 buses, each capable of running for 200km on two hours of charge.
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These features are identical to those at the Vyasarpadi depot.
OHM will operate the buses and appoint drivers, while MTC will pay OHM per kilometre of service. "This model helps us manage tech and environmental risks and addresses our driver shortage," Nedunsezhian added. While the Vyasarpadi fleet has three women drivers and 17 female conductors, Perumbakkam is expected to onboard more women once training is complete, said an OHM spokesperson.
Vyasarpadi and Perumbakkam are part of MTC's first phase of 625 electric buses, costing 697crore. In Phase 1, more buses will go to Central (145), Tondiarpet 1 (100), and Poonamallee (125) by Feb 2026. Phase 2 will add 800 more buses across the city.
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