New MTC Electric Buses: Chennai Expands Fleet with 135 More E-Buses from Perumbakkam Depot

135 New MTC electric buses are set to be launched, with 55 of them being air-conditioned, from the Perumbakkam depot.

Chennai’s Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) is stepping up its green mobility push, announcing the launch of 135 new electric buses, including 55 air-conditioned units, from the Perumbakkam depot on August 11.

This rollout comes barely a month after the introduction of 120 electric buses from Vyasarpadi, marking a major leap towards the city’s electric transition.

This marks Chennai’s first batch of air-conditioned electric buses. Earlier in June, MTC procured its first fleet of electric buses, but they were non-AC buses.

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New MTC Electric Buses Routes

The Perumbakkam depot’s new fleet will finally bring electric buses to OMR’s IT corridor, an area not covered by the Vyasarpadi services. The 13 routes include:

• Siruseri to Airport (MAA 2)
• CMBT to Kilambakkam (570)
• Broadway to Kelambakkam (102)
• T Nagar to Thiruporur (19)
• Thiruvanmiyur to Kilambakkam (95X)
• Kilambakkam to Sholinganallur (555S)

According to MTC GM (operations) S Nedunsezhian, these new MTC electric buses will directly cater to the heavy commuter demand in Chennai’s tech and residential hubs.

MTC Electric Bus Fare

While non-AC e-buses will charge passengers deluxe fares, AC units will follow the regular AC fare structure.

MTC Managing Director T Prabhushankar confirmed plans to add 170 more AC electric buses in the near future.

New MTC Electric Buses: Fleet Features & Infrastructure

Built by Switch Mobility for ₹233.75 crore, each 12-metre bus offers:

• 39 passenger seats
• 4 CCTV cameras
• Wheelchair ramps and priority seating for elderly & disabled
• Stop-request buttons
• Kneeling function lowering the floor to 250mm
• GPS-linked LED stop alerts

The Perumbakkam depot, upgraded at a cost of ₹49.56 crore, can charge 32 buses simultaneously, each capable of 200 km range on a 2-hour charge, identical to the Vyasarpadi setup.

Operations & Employment Model

OHM will operate the buses and provide drivers, with MTC paying on a per-kilometre basis. This model, Nedunsezhian says, helps mitigate technology risks, reduce environmental impact, and address driver shortages.

While Vyasarpadi employs three women drivers and 17 female conductors, Perumbakkam is expected to onboard more women once training concludes.

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The Bigger Picture

The Perumbakkam and Vyasarpadi deployments are part of MTC’s Phase 1 plan to induct 625 electric buses across Chennai, at a total cost of ₹697 crore. By February 2026, additional allocations will go to:

• Central: 145 buses
• Tondiarpet 1: 100 buses
• Poonamallee: 125 buses

Phase 2 will see 800 more electric buses across the city, further cementing Chennai’s shift towards sustainable, zero-emission public transport.