Chennai: Next year, there will be more clean and green mobility options for MTC bus users with the transport corporation’s launch of its e-bus fleet. It is planning to complete the additional seven electric depots in the city by the end of the year to accommodate this.Currently, 625 low-floor e-buses, both AC and non-AC, ply on central routes in the city and are stationed in five depots — Tondiarpet, Vyasarpadi, Perumbakkam, Poonmallee and the Central depot near Pallavan Illam. To cater to the additional e-buses, MTC has identified seven depots to be redeveloped as e-depots.MTC managing director Prabhushankar on Saturday inspected the SETC bus depot near Pallavan Illam where phase 2 of the Central depot will come up. “The existing structure has been demolished. SWITCH Mobility, a global electric vehicle company, will build the upcoming e-depot,” said MTC officials.Alandur, Avadi, Iyyapanthangal, KK Nagar, Padianallur and Perambur — the other depots which will be redeveloped into e-depots — are at different stages of work, added an MTC official. The e-buses will not replace the existing fleet, but will be additional services to improve connectivity and increase frequency of buses. “The existing diesel fleet of buses will be redeployed to other diesel depots,” said the official.MTC’s scheduled services increased from 3,233 to 3,783 in the last financial year. Since April, an additional 75 services have been operated owing to the steady increase of e-bus fleet.Meanwhile, transport secretary M Vallalar inspected the Poonamalle e-depot facility and reviewed electric bus operations. While SWITCH Mobility has been the sole e-bus supplier, MTC sources said that new suppliers will also be roped in development of the e-bus depots and supply and management of the fleet.
