214 New Buses Flagged Off by CM Stalin to Boost Public Transport in Tamil Nadu
In a major push to improve public transportation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin flagged off 214 new buses in Chennai on Wednesday. The buses, launched under various State Transport Corporations, are aimed at enhancing commuter convenience and strengthening the state`s public transport network.
During the flag-off event, the Chief Minister boarded one of the new buses and inspected the onboard amenities to ensure passenger comfort.
This move is part of broader initiatives to modernize the transport system. The Institute of Road Transport (IRT) has already floated bids to procure 1,614 fully built diesel buses under a project funded by KfW, with Ashok Leyland being the sole bidder.
In addition, under Phase 2 of the World Bank-supported program, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has invited bids for 600 low-floor electric buses on a Gross Cost Contract basis, with the bid opening scheduled for May 15. Separately, the IRT has invited bids for 500 low-floor electric buses under the KfW project, set to be opened on May 9.
These developments signal the government`s continued focus on sustainable and efficient urban transport solutions.
