CHENNAI: Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay flagged off 300 new buses, procured at a total cost of `127.21 crore, from the state secretariat on Thursday.
Of the 300 buses, 65 have been allocated to the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), while the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) in Villupuram, Salem, Coimbatore, Kumbakonam, Madurai and Tirunelveli will receive the remaining vehicles. The new fleet comprises 164 diesel buses and 136 BS-VI compliant CNG vehicles.
Following the launch, the buses allocated to MTC commenced operations from the Kilambakkam and Koyambedu termini, as well as from its depots across Chennai.
After flagging off the buses, Vijay boarded one of the MTC buses, bought a ticket and travelled up to the War Memorial.
The new fleet will add to the transport department’s 21,527 buses operated through 26 transport regions and 317 depots, catering to approximately 2.05 crore passengers every day. Nearly 64% of the commuters benefit from fare concessions, including women, students, transgender persons, freedom fighters and Kalaimamani awardees.
Vaishnavi Jayakumar of the Disability Rights Alliance said that the government continues to procure buses with higher floor height. “The court (Madras High Court) has ordered the government to procure low-floor buses. Five years have passed since the order but the government continues to deploy buses with higher floor even in city limits,” she added.
She demanded that the government at least install platform lifts in inter-city buses. She also alleged that tenders issued for procurement of buses are mostly vague without details on the type of bus or routes they would be operated on.
Transport department secretary M Vallalar told TNIE that the TVK-led government has decided to procure only low-floor buses for use in Chennai. “Moreover, most buses in future will be e-buses. The 300 buses flagged off were ordered by the previous government. The department will study the possibility of installing lift system in inter-city buses.”