CHENNAI: Chennai’s electric bus services, operated through a private partnership model (Gross Cost Contract model), are running profitably and do not impose any financial burden on the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), Transport Minister S S Sivasankar told the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday.
Responding to concerns raised by AIADMK legislator AP Jayasankaran, the Minister clarified that only e-bus services in the city are being operated by a private entity and that conventional MTC services remain under government control.
“E-bus services alone are being supplied and operated by a private firm, OHM Global Mobility, a group company of Ashok Leyland and Switch Mobility. Through this arrangement, there is no loss to the State government or the Metropolitan Transport Corporation. The e-bus services are operating in profit,” Sivasankar said.
Earlier, the opposition member had sought clarity on the role of private operators in MTC services and questioned whether the move amounted to privatisation of public transport in the State capital.
Replying to another query, the Minister said proposals to introduce new inter-district bus services on routes such as Attur–Tirupati and Pudukkottai–Tiruchendur would be examined and implemented in the near future.
During the question hour, Kilpennathur MLA and Deputy Speaker K Pitchandi urged the government to consider Tiruvannamalai for an airport under the UDAN scheme and requested the State to pursue the proposal with the Centre.