To run between Central, Thiruvanmiyur

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Tamil Nadu, an air-conditioned electric bus was flagged off by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami in the city on Monday.

The bus, operated by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), began plying on route ‘A1’, between Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station and Thiruvanmiyur, via Mylapore and Adyar.

Equipped with automatic doors and GPS, the bus will make two round trips each in the morning and evening. MTC plans to run the bus, manufactured by Ashok Leyland, on a trial basis with a minimum fare of ₹11.

The MTC plans to operate the bus, manufactured by Ashok Leyland, on a trial basis at Deluxe rates, with a minimum fare of ₹11 and a maximum fare of ₹25.

‘Battery swap’ basis

The vehicle will be operated on a ‘battery swap’ basis and can run a maximum of 40 km with a fully charged battery.

On completion of a single round trip, the battery will be swapped.

Aimed at reducing pollution levels, electric buses are being introduced on a pilot basis.

They will initially be tried for a few months, and based on the feedback, more buses will be introduced.

According to a senior Transport Department official, another electric bus will be introduced in the next 10 days. The 32-seater bus complies with the standards of the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and is equipped with a Fire Detection and Suppression System (FDSS) and other facilities to monitor the driver’s functions and the battery’s performance, among other factors.

Mr. Palaniswami flagged off 40 Amma Patrol vehicles, to be manned by police personnel for the benefit of women and children within the Greater Chennai Police limits, at a total cost of ₹7.50 crore.

The Amma Patrol vehicles will be attached to 35 All Women Police Stations in Chennai and will help in surveillance to check crimes against women.