Cleaner Public Transport: Chennai Gets 120 Low Floor Electric Buses Through World Bank, AIIB Supported Initiative

In a major push towards sustainable urban transport, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday (30 June) flagged off 120 low-floor electric buses at the Vyasarpadi depot in Chennai, marking the state’s first public rollout of e-buses.

According to a report by The Hindu, the Rs 207.90 crore initiative is part of the Chennai City Partnership: Sustainable Urban Services Programme, supported by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The CM also inaugurated a newly upgraded electric bus depot at Vyasarpadi, constructed at a cost of Rs 47.5 crore.

Each non-AC electric bus is equipped with 39 seats with seatbelts, CCTV cameras, LED route displays, emergency alarms, mobile charging points, and wheelchair ramps with anchorage points. Powered by batteries, the buses can travel up to 200 km on a single charge. They will run on 11 routes, including Broadway–Kilambakkam (18A), Perambur to Manali (164E), Vallalar Nagar–Poonamallee (37), and others.

The buses will charge deluxe fare rates, but officials clarified they are augmenting , not replacing, existing services. Of the newly flagged-off fleet, 20 women have joined the crew three drivers and 17 conductors.

Reddy said the deployment would reduce emissions significantly, as a diesel bus emits 755 grams of CO₂ per km. The initiative is expected to make Chennai’s air cleaner while modernising its transport infrastructure.