Chennai To Get A Fresh Ride: Electric Double-Decker Buses To Make An Electric Return

Chennai is set to revive a beloved piece of its transit history with the reintroduction of double-decker buses-this time, in an electric version. The city has a rich legacy with these iconic buses, which first appeared in the 1970s. Although they were removed from service in the 1980s, they made a return in 1997, operating on 18 routes from High Court to Tambaram until 2008.

The new electric double-decker buses will be part of the World Bank-funded Chennai City Partnership Programme project. Due to the need for vertical clearance and the presence of low bridges and cables, these buses cannot run on all routes. Therefore, careful route planning will be essential.

Under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model for the second phase of the project, a private company will be responsible for owning, operating, and maintaining the e-buses. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) will set the routes and fares, while the private operator will be compensated based on a fixed cost per kilometer.

The MTC will handle fare collection and receive viability gap funding from the State government.

In August last year, Ashok Leyland's EV arm, Switch Mobility, conducted a test run of an electric double-decker bus in Chennai. This test followed Transport Minister SS Sivasankar's announcement to explore the feasibility of using these buses for tourist routes. The return of these buses promises to blend Chennai's nostalgic past with a modern, eco-friendly future.