Watch | In a first for Tamil Nadu, 120 low-floor electric buses launched in Chennai 

For the first time in Tamil Nadu, low-floor electric buses have been introduced in Chennai. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin flagged off 120 new e-buses from the Vyasarpadi depot as part of Chennai’s push for cleaner, safer, and more accessible public transport.

These non-air-conditioned, low-floor buses have 39 seats with seat belts, wheelchair ramps, CCTV cameras, emergency alarms, mobile charging points, and real-time LED stop displays. Each bus can travel up to 200 km on a full charge, supported by new charging facilities at the depot.

The 120 e-buses cost nearly ₹208 crore and are funded under the Chennai City Partnership: Sustainable Urban Services Programme with World Bank and AIIB support. MTC aims to deploy 625 low-floor electric buses by February 2026.

Routes will include Broadway–Kilambakkam, Perambur–Manali, and more. The project also highlights inclusivity, with 20 women among the bus crew. While welcomed as a step toward reducing air pollution, some disability rights groups have raised concerns about wheelchair space in the new design.

Reporting: R. Srikanth

Video: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Editing: Thamodharan B. 

Script: Shikha Kumari A