Chennai is about to bring back a cherished chapter of its transit history with the reintroduction of double-decker buses—this time, in an eco-friendly electric version. These iconic buses, which first graced the city’s streets in the 1970s, disappeared from service in the 1980s but made a brief comeback in 1997, operating on 18 routes from High Court to Tambaram until 2008.
Embracing Electric: A New Era for Double-Decker Buses
The new fleet of electric double-decker buses will be introduced under the World Bank-funded Chennai City Partnership Programme project.
These buses are set to make a significant impact by combining Chennai’s nostalgic past with a modern, sustainable future. However, their deployment will require careful planning due to the city’s infrastructure constraints, including low bridges and cables, which restrict the routes these buses can travel.
Strategic Route Planning and Operational Management
Given the vertical clearance challenges, the planning and execution of bus routes will be critical. The Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model will be utilized for the project’s second phase. Under this model, a private company will take on the responsibility of owning, operating, and maintaining the electric buses.
The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) will oversee route planning and fare setting, while the private operator will be paid a fixed cost per kilometer. Additionally, MTC will manage fare collection and secure viability gap funding from the State government to support the initiative.
Test Runs and Future Prospects
In August of the previous year, Ashok Leyland’s EV arm, Switch Mobility, conducted a test run of an electric double-decker bus in Chennai. This test run followed an announcement by Transport Minister SS Sivasankar, who highlighted the potential for these buses to serve tourist routes.
The successful integration of these electric double-decker buses into Chennai’s public transportation system promises to merge the city’s rich transit history with cutting-edge, eco-friendly technology.
The return of the double-decker buses, now reimagined as electric vehicles, signifies a forward-thinking approach to urban transportation, aiming to honor the past while embracing a greener future.
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