Latest news with #ChennaiCityPartnershipProgramme
United News of India
a day ago
- Business
- United News of India
Eco-friendly public transport: TN CM Stalin flags off 120 electric buses
Chennai, June 30 (UNI) For the first time in Tamil Nadu, Chennai has got its green fleet. Providing a green thrust to public transport in the state, Chief Minister MK Stalin flagged off 120 ultra-modern low-floor disabled friendly electric buses here today as part of the first phase. Each bus, when fully charged, could travel up to 200 km. The buses with 39 seats are equipped with passenger amenities including seat belts, CCTV cameras, mobile charging points, emergency clarms and LED displays, providing information on bus stops. This initiative comes under the Chennai City Partnership Programme, Chennai Sustainable Urban Services with financial support from the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Metropolitan Transport Corporation's Rs 47.50 crore upgraded electric bus depot at Vasarpadi in North Chennai. Before flagging off the blue colour fleet, he inspected the facilities in the buses and interacted with the crew. The electric fleet buses for public transport would reduce environmental pollution by bringing down CO2 emission and vastly improve air quality in the city. The MTC would roll out 625 buses in the First Phase at a total cost of Rs 697 crore. For the initial first km, each bus would be running on diesel emissions of 755 grams of carbon dioxide. With the administration taking steps to establish the necessary infrastructure like charging and maintenance facilities, the new electric buses would be operated from five other depots. When charged fully, these buses could run up to 200 km. Further, they have been designed to be disabled-friendly with a ramp making them wheelchair accessible and secure anchorage points. UNI XC SSP
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
T.N. CM Stalin flags off 120 new low-floor electric buses in Chennai
Chennai got its first fleet of low-floor electric buses with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin flagging off 120 vehicles from the Metropolitan Transport Corporation's (MTC) Vyasarpadi depot on Monday (June 30, 2025). Each bus, when fully charged one-time, can travel up to 200 kilometres, and features 39 seats with seat belts, CCTV cameras, and LED displays to provide information on bus stops. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the MTC's upgraded electric bus depot at Vyasarpadi at a cost of ₹47.50 crore. The 120 new e-buses are worth ₹207.90 crore. The initiative was taken up under the Chennai City Partnership Programme, Chennai Sustainable Urban Services Programme, with support from the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Additional Chief Secretary (Transport) K. Phanindra Reddy said in a bid to reduce environmental pollution in Chennai, the MTC, in the first phase, will roll out 625 new low-floor electric buses at a total cost of ₹697 crore. On average, each bus that runs on diesel emits 755 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) for a kilometre. Electric buses would help in reducing CO2 emissions and improve the quality of air to a large extent, he said at an event held at the Vyasarpadi depot. Measures were being taken to operate these new electric buses from depots at Vyasarpadi, Perumbakkam, Poonamallee, Central, and Tondiarpet 1, he said. Work to establish infrastructure, including for charging, has been taken up at the depots. In the first phase, the required infrastructure to maintain and operate 120 buses from the Vyasarpadi depot was taken up. Special features He said one of the special features of these buses is that when charged one-time, it can travel for 200 kilometres. The buses are wheelchair accessible, with a ramp and secure anchorage points. Each bus is equipped with CCTV cameras, mobile phone charging points, and emergency alarms. The 120 buses, which were flagged off, will be operated on 11 routes. This includes 20 buses from Broadway to Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT)-Kilambakkam terminus (route number 18A), 20 buses from Mahakavi Bharathiyar Nagar to KCBT-Kilambakkam bus terminus (170TX), 10 buses from Vallalar Nagar to Poonamallee (37), 10 buses from Mahakavi Bharathiyar Nagar to Koyambedu (46G) and 10 from Perambur to Manali (164E). Other routes included round trip to Kaviarasu Kannadhasan Nagar and from Thiru vi ka Nagar to Guindy Thiru vi ka Industrial Estate. Transport Minister S.S. Sivasankar, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P.K. Sekarbabu, and officials participated.
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
T.N. government approves plan to tackle floods and water shortage in Chennai and surrounding areas
To make the city and the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) water abundant and flood resilient, the State government has approved a Water Security Plan under the Chennai City Partnership Programme. A Government Order (G.O.) was recently issued directing the Water Resources Department (WRD) to adopt the plan, which has recommended 704 works to conserve floodwater and create a decentralised water supply system to mitigate the impact of climate change in the region. With an aim to combat climate change-induced recurrent floods and droughts in Chennai and surrounding coastal districts, the Water Security Plan aims to integrate supply, demand, and governance plans. The G.O. said there was a gap in the current demand and supply of water in the city, as the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) supplied 1,040 million litres a day (mld) against a demand of 1,720 mld (as estimated in 2020). Rising water demand According to the CMWSSB's Master Plan, the water demand in the city is likely rise to 38.73 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) in 2050. With the recommended projects under the Water Security Plan, there is a potential to create additional storage and harness a total of 39.74 tmcft of water in 2050. Twelve water basins, including the Chennai and Palar ones, have been considered for project recommendations in the CMA. Sources in the WRD said the department would be able to proceed with specific studies, project implementation, and fund tie-ups following the crucial step of government approval. Various interventions have been planned under three strategies — conservation of floodwater runoff at source, including rivers and catchment areas; climate adaptive rejuvenation of waterbodies focusing on boosting storage capacity, and regulation of flash floods and river training and flood protection works. The WRD looks to implement various projects, including creating new reservoirs, restoring supply channels, and building a network of check dams and channels for inter and intra basin transfers, over a project period of five to 10 years. Some of the long-term ones will even be implemented over more than 10 years. B. Sakthivel, hydrologist and consultant, who is part of the project, said the plan would address capacity enhancement of existing waterbodies. Further investment on projects should be done based on the plan's recommendations for water conservation, flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, and climate resilience. Some of the projects include upgrading 350 tanks, including the ones in Thenneri, Sriperumbudur, Manimangalam, and Pillaipakkam, into reservoirs with additional storage capacity. Three barrages will be created across the Palar to work as riverine reservoirs. Several groundwater recharge structures will be set up along the coastal belt. The government will fund the projects and receive reimbursements from funding agencies, including the World Bank, after the project is completed, said sources in the WRD.
