CHENNAI: Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday flagged off the upgraded Poonamallee electric bus depot developed at Rs 43.53 crore by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and inaugurated the operation of 125 new low-floor electric buses procured at an outlay of Rs 214.50 crore as part of the third phase of the electric bus rollout in the city.

The newly launched fleet includes 45 low-floor air-conditioned electric buses and 80 non-air-conditioned low-floor electric buses. Officials noted that the addition would strengthen electric bus services on major city routes and enhance commuter comfort.

MTC plans to operate 125 buses on 10 routes. While 101CT (Poonamallee - Broadway) and 54 (Poonamallee - Broadway) will have all AC buses, the routes such as 25 (Poonamallee - Anna Square) and 49X Poonamallee - Tiruvanmiyur will have a mixed fleet of non-AC and AC buses. Only non-AC buses will be operated on the remaining six routes.

Transport and Electricity Minister SS Sivasankar, Minorities Welfare Minister SM Nasar, Transport Department Principal Secretary Shunchonngam Jatak Chiru and Managing Director of the MTC T Prabhu Shankar attended the event, along with senior officials and representatives of transport unions.

Under the Chennai City Partnership – Sustainable Urban Services Programme, the MTC plans to introduce a total of 625 low-floor electric buses, including 225 air-conditioned buses, through a performance-based Gross Cost Contract model.

The contract has been awarded to OHM Global Mobility Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland and Switch Mobility. Of the total fleet, 380 buses, including 100 air-conditioned electric buses, have already been operationalised.

Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated the electric bus depot at Vyasarpadi and flagged off 120 non-air-conditioned electric buses on June 30. Following this, e-bus services began from Perumbakkam depot on August 11 with the operation of 135 buses, including 55 air-conditioned and 80 deluxe buses, for Rs 233 crore.