Chennai is preparing to bring back double-decker buses after a hiatus of over 17 years, as the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) plans to add 20 air-conditioned electric double-decker buses to its fleet electrification initiative. The MTC has issued a tender for the procurement of these buses under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model. Interested bidders are invited to a pre-bid meeting scheduled for January 13 at 3 p.m.
Under the GCC model, the selected contractor will own, operate, and maintain the buses, while the MTC will make payments based on the distance covered. However, fare collection and revenue will remain under the transport undertaking’s purview. The introduction of these buses signifies a move towards modern and sustainable public transport in Chennai, generating significant public interest.
The proposed double-decker buses will not be deployed across the entire city network due to their height requirements, necessitating adequate vertical clearance. These buses will operate on select corridors that meet safety and infrastructure standards, aligning Chennai with similar initiatives in other Indian cities. Mumbai introduced the country’s first air-conditioned electric double-decker buses in January 2023, with Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar also adopting such services in recent years.
Thiruvananthapuram, on the other hand, runs open-top double-decker buses primarily catering to tourism. All 20 buses slated for Chennai are designed, developed, and manufactured by a private company. The company had previously conducted a trial run of an electric double-decker bus in the city in August 2023, following an announcement by the Transport Minister to explore the feasibility of operating double-decker buses, especially on tourist-centric routes.
Chennai has a historical connection with double-decker buses dating back to the 1970s. Although discontinued in the 1980s, these iconic buses briefly returned in 1997, operating on the High Court–Tambaram route until 2008 before being withdrawn again. The current proposal aims to revive this legacy in a cleaner, more commuter-friendly electric form.
