CHENNAI: Long-distance travellers bound for destinations like Nagercoil or Tirunelveli, or cities such as Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram in neighbouring states, will soon be able to travel with enhanced comfort at an affordable price in government-run luxury buses from brands like Volvo, Benz, and Eicher.
For the first time, the State Express Transport Corpoation (SETC) is set to introduce multi-axle luxury buses in its fleet. Till now, such high-end buses were predominantly operated by private omni bus services in Tamil Nadu.
Taking a cue from neighbouring states – where Karnataka offers “Airavat Club Class” and Andhra Pradesh runs Volvo buses under names like “Amaravathi”, “Garuda”, and “Garuda Plus” – Tamil Nadu is preparing to roll out a similar premium service.
Official sources from SETC said 20 air-conditioned (AC) multi-axle luxury buses from eligible brands will be purchased.
“Tenders have already been floated for the purchase of these multi-axle buses, which are expected to provide superior travel comfort compared to standard axle models,” said an official.
The initiative is aimed at attracting travellers willing to pay a slightly higher fare for enhanced comfort, especially those who typically opt for private buses due to limited train availability or time constraints. “A section of travellers that can’t get train tickets usually turns to private omni buses despite higher fares, preferring comfort and faster travel. This SETC initiative will provide them with a luxurious alternative for trips to places like Bengaluru and Nagercoil,” an official explained.
To meet the increasing demand during weekends and festival season, SETC has also decided to hire 20 AC private buses which are expected to be introduced from May-end, added the official.
SETC, which serves routes above 300 km, carried around 72,553 passengers a day during the 2024-25 period (up to February). The corporation operates 1,000 scheduled services across 195 routes – 90 interstate and 105 intrastate – using a fleet of 1,080 buses.
Additionally, SETC offers a 50% fare discount to frequent travellers. Those making more than five trips a month are eligible for the discount from their sixth trip onwards. Last year, a total of 4,376 travellers benefited from this concession.
Last week, the transport department issued tender notices for the procurement of 2,144 buses. This includes 110 non-AC sleeper-cum-seater buses and 10 AC seater buses for SETC.
The tenders cover 876 mofussil buses for six TNSTCs, 297 standard floor buses, and 260 ultra-low floor buses for MTC. Additionally, tenders for the purchase of 745 CNG-powered mofussil and town buses were floated on Wednesday. In total, tenders have been issued for 2,909 buses.