Chennai to Get 220 Electric Feeder Buses for Better Metro Access
Chennai: Getting to and from Metro stations in the city could soon become much easier. The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority and Chennai Metro Rail Limited are working on a plan to introduce 220 electric low-floor buses to improve first and last mile connectivity. The service is expected to start by December 2026.
To make sure the routes actually match people’s needs, a city-wide survey is being conducted through the Chennai One app. Commuters are asked simple questions about where they start, which Metro station they use, how they reach it, and how they complete their journey after getting down. There’s also space to share specific needs, like accessibility support.
The plan includes a mix of 70 larger 7-metre buses and 150 smaller 5-metre buses, all air-conditioned and electric. These buses will mainly serve areas within about 5 km of Metro stations, especially neighbourhoods that currently don’t have good bus connectivity. Around 20 buses per station may be deployed, depending on demand.
The buses will be operated by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation. Routes won’t be rigid at the start-they’ll be adjusted based on how people use the service, and then gradually finalised.
Officials are encouraging residents to take a few minutes to fill out the survey, as more input will help create routes that are actually useful for everyday travel.
