MTC to Add 1,320 Electric Buses to Fleet by 2025
In a significant step towards enhancing public transportation and promoting eco-friendly mobility, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has announced plans to add 1,320 electric buses to its existing fleet of 3,200 by the end of 2025. This move will increase the fleet size by 28%, reaching 4,500 buses, according to MTC Managing Director Alby John Varghese.
Currently, MTC operates about 3,200 buses daily, serving 32 lakh commuters across Chennai. Alongside replacing aging diesel buses with modern low-floor and high-floor models, the corporation aims to procure 1,000 electric buses under the World Bank-funded Chennai City Partnership Programme through a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model.
In the first phase, MTC has contracted OHM Global Mobility Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland and Switch Mobility, to supply 500 low-floor electric buses, including 100 air-conditioned ones. Under the GCC model, MTC will pay operational costs of ₹77.16 per km for non-AC buses and ₹80.86 per km for AC buses.
Additionally, under a project funded by KfW Development Bank, 320 air-conditioned low-floor electric buses will be added for Chennai, with 80 buses allocated to TNSTC-Coimbatore and 100 to Madurai. Bids for another 500 buses through the GCC model are expected to be floated soon.
