Tamil Nadu CM Launches State’s First Upgraded Electric Bus Depot at Vyasarpadi and Flags Off 120 New E-Buses

Massive Green Urban Mobility Push with ₹207.9 Crore Investment for Electric Buses in Chennai

Chennai : In a major step toward sustainable urban transport, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru M.K. Stalin today inaugurated the state’s first upgraded electric bus depot at Vyasarpadi, built at a cost of ₹47.5 crore under the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC).

During the same event, the Chief Minister also flagged off 120 newly procured low-floor electric buses, launched for the first time in Tamil Nadu under an investment of ₹207.9 crore. The new buses form part of the government’s green mobility initiative aimed at reducing urban air pollution and carbon emissions.

The launch took place at Vyasarpadi as part of the Chennai City Partnership Project – Sustainable Urban Services Program (CCP-SUSP), implemented jointly by the Tamil Nadu Government with support from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). In total, 625 electric buses will be introduced in Chennai in a phased manner under this ₹697 crore project.

Electric buses will operate from five upgraded depots: Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Poonamallee, and depot zones in Tondiarpet and Thiruvottriyur. Necessary infrastructure—including charging stations, operational control rooms, administrative blocks, and fire safety systems—has already been set up. Each electric bus, once fully charged, can travel up to 200 kilometers without air-conditioning.

Highlighting the significance of the initiative, the Chief Minister noted that Chennai’s carbon emissions rose from 10 million to 27 million tonnes of CO₂ between 2005 and 2019, largely due to diesel-based public transport. The shift to electric buses is expected to greatly reduce CO₂ emissions and enhance air quality. A standard diesel bus emits approximately 755 grams of CO₂ per kilometer, whereas electric buses offer a clean alternative with no tailpipe emissions.

Thiru M.K. Stalin emphasized that this is a transformational moment for Tamil Nadu’s public transport sector, making it the first state in India to operate such advanced low-floor electric buses.

After flagging off the buses, the Chief Minister interacted with the drivers and staff, emphasizing the government’s commitment to accessible and eco-friendly urban mobility.

Features of the New Low-Floor Electric Buses:

• Bus floor height is only 400 mm, allowing easy access.
• Features kneeling suspension, which can lower the floor to 250 mm for easy boarding by senior citizens, children, and differently-abled passengers.
• Side seating height has been optimized to 700 mm for enhanced passenger comfort.
• Equipped with three CCTV cameras (two front, one rear) to enhance onboard safety.

Routes for the 120 New Electric Buses:

The new electric buses will serve the following major routes in Chennai:

• Route 2B: Vyasarpadi → MKB Nagar → Central → Adyar → Vyasarpadi (Circular Service) – 10 buses
• Route C33: Vyasarpadi → Dr. MGR Central Railway Station → Marina Sports Complex → Vyasarpadi – 5 buses
• Route C64: Vyasarpadi → Perambur → Kolathur → MKB Nagar → Vyasarpadi – 5 buses
• Route 18A: Broadway → Kilambakkam Bus Terminal – 20 buses
• Route 37: MKB Nagar → Poonamallee – 10 buses
• Route 46G: MKB Nagar → MGR Medical College – 10 buses
• Route 57: MKB Nagar → Chengundram – 10 buses
• Route 57X: MKB Nagar → Suburban Expressway – 10 buses
• Route 164E: Sembium → Velayuthampalayam – 10 buses
• Route 170TX: MKB Nagar → Kilambakkam via Broadway – 20 buses
• Route 170C: Thiru Vi Ka Nagar → Kindi Thiru Vi Ka – 10 buses

A total of 120 electric buses have been deployed on these routes in the initial phase.

Dignitaries Present:

The event was attended by:

• Thiru S.S. Sivasankar, Minister for Transport and Electricity
• Thiru P.K. Sekar Babu, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments
• MP Thiru Dayanidhi Maran
• MLAs Thiru R.T. Sekar, Thiru R. Moorthy, Thiru L.L. Ebenezer
• Thiru Na. Muthukumaran, IAS, Secretary, Transport Department
• Thiru Maninder Satti, IAS, Additional Secretary, Transport
• Thiru D. Prabhu Shankar, IAS, Managing Director, MTC
• Thiru Kanu Aryal, Director, Agence Française de Développement
• Thiru S. Natarajan, Joint Managing Director, MTC
• Senior officials from TANGEDCO, Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board, and other government departments.

Issued by:
Director, Information and Public Relations Department, Chennai – 9