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Time of India
24-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Volvo buses to hit Tamil Nadu roads soon
As anticipated, Volvo has emerged as the sole bidder for Tamil Nadu's high-profile tender to procure 20 fully built, multi-axle AC buses for State Express Transport Corporation (SETC). The tender floated last month, opting for fully built buses instead of assembling them in Karur. With stringent specifications - including BS-VI high-performance engines, full air suspension, Anti-Braking System, vehicle stability control, and premium onboard features - industry insiders had already indicated that Volvo was among the few players capable of meeting the requirements. Volvo's bid will now be evaluated by SETC, following which the purchase order will be issued, provided the quoted price aligns with the department's estimate. The company is expected to supply buses with either 51+1 or 55+1 seating layouts, offering wide gangways, theatre-style seating, individual USB ports, AC vents, and LED TVs at the front and rear. SETC officials said the procurement aims to put state-run services on par with private premium operators, especially on busy routes such as Chennai-Bangalore and Chennai-Coimbatore. The addition of underbody luggage compartments and anti-skid flooring is also likely to help SETC regain long-distance passengers lost to private carriers.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tamil Nadu's SETC to procure Volvo multi-axle AC buses
CHENNAI: As anticipated, Volvo has emerged as the sole bidder for Tamil Nadu 's high-profile tender to procure 20 fully built, multi-axle AC buses for State Express Transport Corporation (SETC). The tender was floated last month, opting for fully built buses instead of assembling them in Karur. With stringent specifications — including BS-VI high-performance engines, full air suspension, anti-braking system, vehicle stability control and premium onboard features —Volvo was among the few players capable of meeting the requirements, industry insiders have indicated. Volvo's bid will now be evaluated by SETC, following which the purchase order will be issued, provided the quoted price aligns with the department's estimate. The company is expected to supply buses with either 51+1 or 55+1 seating layouts, offering wide gangways, theatre-style seating, individual USB ports, AC vents, and LED TVs at the front and rear. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai SETC officials say the procurement aims to put state-run services on a par with private premium operators, especially on busy routes like Chennai–Bengaluru and Chennai–Coimbatore. The addition of underbody luggage compartments, anti-skid flooring and optional Wi-Fi are likely to help SETC regain long-distance passengers lost to private carriers. While this pilot tender covers just 20 buses, officials indicated that more such orders could follow based on public response and performance on the road.
New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Panjappur terminus goes live, mofussil and intra-city buses to run from facility
TIRUCHY: With the flagging off of the first set of buses by Minister for Municipal Administration KN Nehru, operations commenced at the Rs 492.55-crore Muthamizh Arignar Dr Kalaignar Karunanidhi Integrated Bus Terminus at Panjappur on Wednesday. All long-distance buses plying across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states as well as intra-city buses will now be operated through the terminus. Addressing media persons after the launch of operations at the terminus that was inaugurated by the chief minister on May 9, Nehru said, "We are still in the process of finalising the annual maintenance contract." The terminus, however, has been equipped with all essential passenger amenities, and no additional user fee will be charged. Until permanent shops are established, passengers can buy food and beverages from kiosks, the minister added. While the terminus's fully air-conditioned ground floor is designated for mofussil (inter-district) bus operations, city buses will be operated from the first floor, which is not air-conditioned. According to a district administration release on Wednesday, TNSTC has deployed city buses from the new terminus on key urban routes including Central Bus Stand, Chathiram Bus Stand, Srirangam and Thiruverumbur. To meet early-morning commuter demand, 196 additional bus trips will be operated between 3 am and 10 am. Suburban and long-distance services operated by TNSTC, SETC and private operators will also use the facility. To ensure smooth operations, TNSTC has posted staff in rotation to provide round-the-clock support.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bharat Bandh leaves minimal impact in Coimbatore district
The nationwide general strike called by a forum of 10 central trade unions on Wednesday, opposing 'the anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the Union government', did not affect normalcy in Coimbatore district. While public transport services and private vehicles plied normally across the district, some of the inter-State bus services, especially the ones to Kerala, were affected. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation and SETC buses to Palakkad and other parts of Kerala from Ukkadam bus stand and Thiruvalluvar bus stand did not operate. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses also did not operate services to and from Coimbatore. Educational institutions, hotels, shops and other establishments functioned normally. Coimbatore city and district police said that no major disruptions to traffic due to protests and gatherings of trade unions were reported. A joint forum of 11 trade unions staged protests at six locations, namely BSNL office near Collectorate, Periyanaickenpalayam, Mettupalayam, Sulur, Pollachi, and Valparai in the district, drawing participation from over 3,000 workers. The strike was held to press for 17 key demands of the forum of the central trade unions. These included the withdrawal of the four new labour codes, implementation of International Labour Organisation Convention 81 to ensure workplace inspections, and immediate convening of the long-pending Indian Labour Conference. They also urged the government to fill vacancies in public departments and reopen all 23 NTC textile mills, including seven in Tamil Nadu. 'This strike is not just for workers but for the people's welfare,' said S. Krishnamoorthy, district secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions. 'Privatisation affects essential services and job security.' He added, 'We want the government to hear the working class before implementing any reforms.'
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
6L people used Kilambakkam bus terminus in five days: Govt
Chennai: Amid backlash over delays and crowding at the Kilambakkam bus terminus during the Bakrid and muhurtham weekend rush, state govt claimed that more than 6 lakh passengers were transported in 11,026 special and regular buses from June 4 to 8. State transport officials said 3,028 buses, including 936 specials, operated out of Chennai on June 7 alone, ferrying 1.66 lakh passengers. This comes days after hundreds of stranded passengers staged a road roko on NH-45 outside Kilambakkam late on Wednesday night, blocking traffic for nearly four hours. With complaints mounting, State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) has now blamed long-running flyover work on the GST Road stretch between Maduranthakam and Melmaruvathur for the cascading delays. SETC managing director R Mohan, in a letter to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), urged urgent widening of the single-lane service road that has become a choke point for buses arriving from southern districts. The letter notes that vehicles get trapped for up to 1.5km in this bottleneck, losing 45 minutes to 1 hour in the process. "During holidays, the situation worsens with heavy vehicles slowed by pothole-ridden service roads," it said. NHAI officials said they have already provided a two-lane service road but blamed the narrowed usable width on vehicles parked by residents and TNSTC buses halting at roadside eateries. They assured that two underpasses being built at Padalam and Uthiramerur would ease congestion within 8-9 months. Meanwhile, the crowding has triggered sharp political responses. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami slammed DMK govt for opening Kilambakkam without proper planning. "People are still suffering one and a half years after the new terminus opened. The govt couldn't even ensure basic bus availability," he said. TVK's Nirmal Kumar also criticised the "hurried opening" of the terminus, calling it a failure in transport connectivity. "From day 1, passengers have struggled to even reach Kilambakkam. On June 4, people waited with infants for hours, and the govt blamed festival restrictions to mask its mismanagement," he said.
