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New Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu Dy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin flags off 135 new electric buses
CHENNAI: Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday flagged off 135 electric buses, including 55 air-conditioned vehicles, and inaugurated an electric charging station at the Perumbakkam depot. The buses, purchased at a cost of Rs 233 crore, will operate under the gross cost contract model -- where the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) collects fares and operators are paid per kilometre. The charging facility at Perumbakkam was set up at a cost of Rs 49.56 crore. Transport Minister SS Sivasankar was present during the event held at Perumbakkam. These buses form part of MTC's plan to procure 625 electric buses under the Chennai Sustainable Urban Services Programme, supported by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to curb environmental pollution. All the 135 buses are ultra low-floor models and disabled friendly, featuring low-floor seating in the front and higher-floor seating in the rear. A total of Rs 697 crore has been allocated for the purchase of all 625 buses. On June 30, Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated 120 electric buses from the Vyasarpadi depot. The remaining 370 buses -- earmarked for Tondiarpet, Central and Poonamallee depots -- are currently under construction, with charging infrastructure being developed. The 55 AC buses will serve routes such as KCBT - Thiruvanmiyur (95X), KCBT - Sholinganallur (555S), T Nagar - Thiruporur (19), Broadway - Kelambakkam (102), Chennai Airport - Siruseri IT Park (MAA2) and MGR CMBT - Kelambakkam/Siruseri IT Park (570). The remaining 80 non-AC buses will operate on heavily congested routes, said an official note.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
City gets 55 AC e-buses; deputy CM opens Perumbakkam depot
Chennai: A fleet of 55 air-conditioned electric buses were unveiled in the city on Monday. Deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin flagged off 135 new low-floor electric buses, of which 55 are air-conditioned and 80 are deluxe, together worth 233 crore. He also inaugurated the upgraded Perumbakkam electric bus depot built at 49.56 crore. Coming a month after chief minister M K Stalin launched 120 new e-buses, this event marked the second phase of MTC's e-bus rollout under the Chennai City Partnership – Sustainable Urban Services Project (CCP-SUSP), supported by the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to reduce air pollution. The new AC buses have a height-lowering feature (40cm to 25cm) to allow easier boarding for senior citizens, women, children, and people with disabilities, along with wider aisles (70cm instead of 65cm), same-level seating, and CCTV cameras for passenger safety. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai These 12-metre buses will be operated under a gross cost contract model, with the project awarded to OHM Global Mobility, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland and SWITCH Mobility Automotive. MTC MD T Prabhushankar said unlike the previous models where MTC owned the buses, they leased the buses this time for a 12-year period, and maintenance and operation are entirely the contractor's responsibility. "We pay 80.86 per km for an assured minimum trip distance of 200km a day. This totals 6.6 crore payment to the contractor over a period of 12 years per bus. The contractor will maintain the buses, including the depot, and will be managed by key-performance indicators. We can cut up to 15% if they err on performance," he said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Times of Oman
a day ago
- General
- Times of Oman
Military Technological College continues to welcome new students
Muscat: The Military Technological College (MTC) is continuing to welcome its new batch of female general diploma students. These students, who were accepted through the Higher Education Admission Centre of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, are completing the essential admission requirements, which include written exams, medical check-ups, and personal interviews. This year, the college opened admissions for both male and female students in its programmes (without employment). To create a comprehensive educational environment that meets various needs, the college is providing on-campus housing for male students and dedicated transportation for female students. The initiative reflects the MTC's commitment to supplying the local job market with qualified national talent capable of meeting the demands of national development. In its programmes (without employment), the MTC grants a bachelor's degree. Students who do not meet the academic requirements can receive an advanced diploma qualification after completing three years of specialised engineering studies. The academic journey at the college begins with a foundational year that includes courses in English, mathematics, physics, and computer science, preparing students for the specialised engineering programs. Throughout their academic path, students participate in practical training in labs and workshops based on their specialisations. They are assigned to major specialisations based on their preferences and their general education diploma results.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
ITDP takes up study to assess the impact of electrification of private omni buses
The successful rollout of electric buses by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has led to a study by Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) to examine the potential environmental impact and fuel savings the State could achieve if private bus operators switch to electric buses. The report, titled 'Accelerating Sustainability: Electrifying Tamil Nadu's Private Bus sector', prepared in association with the Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India and The Federation of Bus Operators Association of Tamilnadu, found that electrifying the 8,500 private buses operating in the city and across the State, which play a major role in transporting nearly 48 lakh passengers while competing with State Transport Undertakings (STUs), could help prevent carbon dioxide (CO2) emission to the tune of 84 lakh tonnes. It also projects fuel savings of ₹ 24,000 crore in a decade and a reduction of 30%-40% in the cost of operation of the buses. Sivasubramaniam Jayaraman of ITDP said, for the study, surveys were carried out with 153 private bus operators who expressed their willingness to switch to electricity but pointed out several barriers. These include high upfront capital costs, inadequate charging infrastructure, limited financing options, and strict permit regulations. Mr. Jayaraman added that Tamil Nadu, already a pioneer in renewable energy such as wind and solar energy, could also become a leader in clean transport. He said this would require the State to develop an innovative financing model such as dry leasing, build a robust charging infrastructure network, and regulatory reforms of providing subsidy to streamline permits for electric buses. If these mechanisms are created the State can lead the journey in the electrification of buses thereby ensuring a modern, sustainable and efficient public transport system. Bus shortage The report also highlights that Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, faces a significant shortfall in city bus services. As cities continue to expand, the demand for stage carrier buses is expected to rise substantially. At present, the State has only 18 city buses per one lakh of urban population, while the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has set a benchmark of 60 buses per lakh population. According to the study, the demand for urban stage carrier buses across 63 cities in the State is projected to be around 20,300, while currently only 7,909 such buses are available, including both private and public services. With Chief Minister M. K. Stalin having announced the Tamil Nadu Electric Vehicle Policy 2023 and set an ambitious target of achieving 50 per cent renewable energy generation capacity by 2030, the electrification of the private stage carrier fleet is essential for meeting the State's sustainability objectives. The study also notes that the public transport system in the State is not only short of vehicles but also in need of cleaner and more sustainable options, as a significant portion of both public and private bus fleets is overaged. T. Abinesh, a resident of Sholinganallur, said that with the Tamil Nadu Electric Vehicle Policy in place and the city seeing strong growth in electric vehicles, especially two-wheelers and cars, the government should focus on encouraging private bus operators transporting software engineers to shift from diesel to electric. He said this would help reduce pollution in the IT corridor along Rajiv Gandhi Salai.
News18
5 days ago
- Automotive
- News18
Chennai: 135 New Electric Buses To Hit The Roads From August 11, Full Details Inside
Last Updated: The Perumbakkam depot, upgraded at Rs 49.56 crore, can charge 32 buses at once, with each bus running up to 200 km on a two-hour charge. After successfully rolling out 120 electric buses from the Vyasarpadi depot, Chennai is now gearing up to launch 135 more e-buses starting 11 August. This includes 55 air-conditioned buses – a first for the city – bringing a fresh breath of air to daily travel. These buses will operate from the newly upgraded Perumbakkam depot, covering 13 routes, especially along the busy OMR IT corridor, which had been left out in the previous rollout, as per TOI. Which Routes Will Be Covered? Some of the key new routes include: What's Special About These Buses? AC buses will follow regular AC fare, while non-AC buses will use the deluxe fare model. Who Will Operate These Buses? OHM will manage operations and drivers, while MTC pays per kilometre of service. This setup helps reduce tech-related and driver shortages. MTC officials also shared that more women drivers and conductors will be added once training is complete. What's Next? This rollout is part of Phase 1 of Chennai's 625 e-bus plan, worth Rs 697 crore. By February 2026, more buses will be introduced at Central, Tondiarpet, and Poonamallee. Phase 2 will bring 800 additional e-buses. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
