383 overaged MTC buses to be sent to dists to meet Vettri Payanam demand
“We already need more than 1,000 additional buses. Transferring another 380 without bringing in replacements will only worsen service frequency in Chennai,” said S Dinesh, a regular MTC commuter from Taramani. The concern comes as MTC’s procurement of 1,520 electric buses remains delayed, with three tenders repeatedly postponed over insufficient competition among bidders.
Because women are allowed to travel free does not mean the govt can compromise on the quality and safety of buses,” he said, just.
TNSTC Villupuram officials, however, said demand had risen following Vettri Payanam’s expansion, stretching an already ageing town-bus fleet and creating an urgent need for more vehicles. This amounts to semi-privatisation and is condemnable,” said K Anabalagan of TN Transport Workers (Stop Corruption) Federation. “If a bus is considered unfit for use in Chennai after nine years, how can the same bus be deemed fit to operate in Madurai or Villupuram? Transport minister Tamilan Parthiban did not respond to questions about the transfers and the govt’s replacement norms. The transfer has also raised concerns in Chennai, where MTC is struggling with inadequate bus services. Transport unions have also opposed the move, questioning MTC’s plans to replace diesel buses with electric vehicles under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model. “Instead of purchasing buses directly, MTC wants private operators to run them using their own staff.
2021, all MTC and TNSTC buses should be replaced after nine years or 12 lakh km, whichever comes first, according to a govt order issued by the transport department on July 8. MTC has offered 383 BS-IV buses to sister corporations at book value, or their recorded worth. TOI accessed a list of all 126 buses sought by TNSTC Villupuram and found not one was younger than nine years.