The Tamil Nadu government has introduced 242 new buses across the state, including 80 in Chennai, according to a recent report by the state transport corporation.As per the report, the government had planned to purchase 2,000 new buses for the fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24. So far, 1,905 buses have been procured.
In Chennai, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), with funding from the German Development Bank has already introduced 228 low-floor buses designed for use by people with disabilities. Recently, an additional 41 low-floor buses were purchased, bringing the total number to 269.
For the current fiscal year, the government has also planned to purchase 3,000 new buses. Out of this, 162 new BS-6 standard buses have already been brought into service.
Among the newly launched buses, 80 BS-6 standard vehicles were added to the MTC fleet in Chennai, with a total of 242 BS-6 standard buses now operational statewide.
These buses will be operated under the free travel scheme for women, allowing women, persons with disabilities, and transgender individuals to travel for free, as announced by Minister Sivasankar.