Happy news!! Get ready for double decker electric buses in Chennai soon!!
Posted on: 15/Jul/2024 9:08:57 AM
Who would have forgotten the double decker buses that once roamed throughout the Chennai city?
If everything goes per plan, then we could witness double decker buses operating once again in Chennai in the near future.
It is true that a few years back the residents felt nice, comfortable and relaxed while travelling in the double decker buses to reach their destinations in the city.
The sensational news that has come out now is that in 2025 the double decker buses would once again make a comeback on the Chennai roads and these buses would be electric based.
Information collected is that electric double decker buses would be procured by the MTC or metropolitan transport corporation. This would be as a part of the World Bank funded Chennai city Partnership Programme.
The sources have confirmed that electric double decker buses would be procured under the Gross Cost Contract basis in the second phase of the WB funded project. While the routes for these electric double decker buses and fares would be fixed by MTC, private company would own, operate and maintain these buses under the GCC model. Based on the fixed cost per km, the private operator would be paid. It is said that MTC would collect bus fares and receive viability gap funds from the TN govt.
It must be recalled that in August 2023 test run on an electric double decker bus was conducted by Ashok Leyland`s EV arm switch mobility. Point is that this test run was conducted weeks after the transport minister Mr. S.S. Sivashankar spoke about the plan to study the feasibility of operating double decker buses on tourist routes.
History of double decker buses in Chennai:
In the 1970s, double decker buses began operating in Chennai is well known to us. In the 1980s, these buses were taken off the roads and in 1997 they were re-introduced in Chennai. From High Court to Tambaram, these double decker buses were operated in Chennai till 2008 on the 18A bus route is known.
It was brought to light by some sources that the double decker buses cannot be operated on all the bus routes as they need vertical clearance without low bridges, cables etc that would hinder the bus movement.
Procurement of 50000 e-buses:
For the second phase of the programme, MTC would soon float bids to procure as many as 500 electric buses. In the first phase, MTC has already floated a tender for procurement, supply, operation and maintenance of 500 electric buses through the GCC model.
It must be taken into account that under the Rs 960 cr project the international aid agency would provide about 70% of the funds and the remaining 30% would be provided by the TN govt.
In Mumbai in January 2023, BEST or Brihanmumbai Electric Supply 7 Transport Undertaking introduced India`s first ever double decker air-conditioned electric buses replacing the diesel double decker buses and it was highly successful. It is now brought out that Bengaluru based MTC has also planned to buy double decker electric buses.
