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The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
Chennai is a city that reassures every person, says Alby John Varghese, Director of e-Governance and CEO of T.N. e-Governance Agency
Chennai is a city that reassures every person. You feel it the moment you step onto its streets - the quiet safety, an assurance that you belong here. I still remember my first day in the city and the way I felt welcomed even in the most routine interactions with people whom I was meeting for the first time. Chennai is also a city which thrives on compassion. While serving in the Greater Chennai Corporation during the pandemic, I witnessed communities coming together in extraordinary ways supporting grassroot health initiatives and leading volunteer-driven vaccination drives. Later, as District Collector of Tiruvallur and as MD, Metropolitan Transport Corporation I was amazed by the entrepreneurial spirit of Chennaites, a force that steadily pushes the city's edges outward and thus reshaping the city itself. However, I feel Chennai is essentially its people - warm enough to embrace, wise enough to give space. We have all heard the saying, 'Vantharai Vaazhavaikkum Chennai'. Those who come to Chennai will prosper - perhaps because the city teaches resilience while never letting go of kindness. Heritage anchors Chennai as a city but modernity takes it forward. Along streets carrying centuries' worth of stories, you now see metro trains zooming overhead and electric buses gliding through the traffic. Even the city's landmark Marina Beach is preparing for a Blue Flag future. (As told to Aloysius Xavier Lopez)
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.
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.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
MTC organises short film contest to celebrate Madras Day
The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) will organise a bouquet of events to celebrate Madras Day. The MTC which is an integral part of the city's life as it moves thousands of commuters daily would conduct four types of contests including short film, photography, poetry and drawing competition , for the Madras Day celebration. A senior official of the MTC said the short film contest, which is open for all age groups and carrying a total prize money of Rs. 45,000 with the first prize winner to get Rs. 20,000 aims to capture Chennai's heart and soul through the travel in MTC. The short film contest titled 'Oru Perundhin Kadhai' expects contestants to film in MP4 or MOV format having a resolution of 1080p having a minimum duration of one minute and maximum of three minutes with recording to be done in Tamil or English. The short film should be submitted through the Google drive along with email and contact number. The winning short film would also be featured on the MTC Chennai's official social media platforms. The last date for submission is August 15. Similarly the MTC is organising a drawing competition for school students comprising three categories from classes 1 to 12 and carries a total prize money of Rs. 6,000. The photography contest titled 'En Payanam, En Kadhai' aims to capture the unseen, emotional or overlooked journeys that would define Chennai through MTC and its commuters. A poetry contest to celebrate the MTC and Chennai through the power of words could be in Tamil or English with topics related to Namma Chennai bus.
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
MTC double-deckers to return in electric avatar under NCAP
Chennai: Once beloved on Chennai's roads, the iconic double-decker buses are set for a nostalgic comeback by the end of this year. This time, they'll return in an all-electric avatar not just for daily commuting, but also to give a fresh boost to city tourism. Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), long known as the city's public transport backbone, is preparing to don a new role as driver of heritage and recreational tourism. With 20 electric double-decker buses sanctioned under the national clean air programme (NCAP), MTC plans to operate these vehicles on heritage routes on weekends, and on high-demand routes on weekdays. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The project, with an investment of 10crore under NCAP, will follow the gross cost contract model, where a private contractor will operate the buses and be paid per kilometre. State govt will retain control over route planning and fare fixation. "We will be calling for tenders soon, and the buses are expected to roll out by year-end," said T Prabhushankar, managing director, MTC. "Apart from their regular use, these buses will run on select tourist circuits on weekends when commuter patronage is low. These tours will be pre-booked." Proposed heritage routes include Anna Salai, Kamarajar Salai, and other arterial roads, as well as East Coast Road leading to Mahabalipuram. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hanoi: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo "We are planning to onboard tourist guides who can narrate the history of landmarks along the way," he added. Chennai follows the lead of cities such as Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, which have recently reintroduced electric double-decker buses. For Chennaiites, the sight of double-deckers evokes strong nostalgia. First introduced in the 1970s, they were taken off the roads in the 1980s, brought back briefly in 1997, and ran on the 18A route from high court to Tambaram until 2008. Sriharan Balan, chairman of SICCI tourism committee, described it as a 'big bus' concept. "These buses are popular in many cities across the world, often operating as hop-on hop-off services. Here, it's being introduced as a scheduled ride, so the experience will be different. This is a welcome move the city needs more attractions to boost its tourism appeal." Electric double-decker buses are not only environmentally friendly but also highly efficient, with a capacity of nearly 90 passengers about 1.5 times that of a single-decker electric bus. In a city such as Chennai, where buses often run overcrowded, introducing these double-deckers on high-demand corridors can significantly enhance passenger comfort, as they are particularly effective on short-distance, high-ridership routes with limited height restrictions. Mumbai's BEST currently operates 50 AC electric double-deckers, deployed as feeders to suburban train stations, and plans to expand the fleet to 1,000. For Chennai, adopting low-floor electric double-deckers would not only improve accessibility for all passengers, including the elderly and differently-abled, but if well-marketed, they could be a signature of Chennai's public transport system, much like London's red double-deckers, while promoting sustainable urban mobility. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
