Wed Mar 19 11:09:33 UTC 2025: ## Chennai to Get 500 Electric Buses in April, Leading Tamil Nadu’s Green Transport Push
**Chennai, Tamil Nadu – March 19, 2025** – Tamil Nadu is set to significantly expand its electric bus fleet, with 500 new electric buses slated to hit the streets of Chennai in April. This initiative, part of the state’s broader decarbonization strategy for the transport sector, will make Tamil Nadu the fifth state in India – after Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Delhi – to widely deploy electric buses in its public transport system.
The 500 buses represent the first phase of a three-phase plan to introduce 1,300 electric buses to Chennai by the end of 2025. A novel “gross cost contract model” will be used for procurement and operation, where the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) pays a per-kilometer rate to the supplier and operator. This model, according to Additional Chief Secretary K. Phanindra Reddy, addresses operational and maintenance challenges.
The state government plans to expand electric bus integration into other public transport units, but faces challenges in standardizing charging infrastructure and battery technology. Further details regarding these challenges and the government’s future plans were discussed in an interview with Mr. Reddy.
First Piper 