Chennai expands electric bus fleet with second phase rollout

Chennai is set to launch the second phase of its electric bus programme, expanding the city’s green public transport network. Under this phase, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) plans to introduce 750 new low-floor, air-conditioned electric buses across seven depots, including Alandur, Perambur, and Avadi.

The rollout begins with 130 electric buses operating from the upgraded Alandur depot, which recently underwent a Rs 30.43 crore renovation to support charging infrastructure and new fleet requirements. Once the full second phase is complete, the total electric bus fleet in Chennai will reach 1,375 vehicles.

This initiative is part of the Chennai City Partnership-Sustainable Urban Services Programme (CCP-SUSP), supported by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The program aims to reduce vehicular emissions and air pollution by transitioning away from diesel-powered transport. The new low-floor design is intended to improve accessibility for senior citizens and passengers with limited mobility.