All state-run transport corporations in Tamil Nadu will receive new buses by the end of July. Higher-ups in the state Transport Department said that the Kumbakonam Corporation has received 17 new buses and exuded confidence that Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) will soon receive its share — 345 buses.

File photo of CM Edappadi K Palaniswami and Minister M R Vijayabhaskar inspecting the new buses

Chennai:

According to transport officials, the department has already prepared a blueprint for 2,100 buses. The officials said that they will replace old buses after all the new buses are ready. 

The officials in all the regions have been instructed to identify the old buses which need replacement. “We had already prepared a schedule and according to that, 200 buses should have gone on the road by May 31 and 500 buses by June 30. 

Remaining buses would have been delivered by the end of August,” said an official. However, the department could not meet the deadline as it faced hurdles like fund crunch and delay in tendering process, added the official. 

When asked about the arrival of small buses, the official said, “Everything is under process and we expect all the buses to be ready by September. We are also preparing route-chart for the city and suburbs.” When contacted, an official said that they have inspected the buses and they are passenger-friendly. 

“We will receive remaining buses in a phased manner. As far as MTC buses are concerned, we are hopeful to get 345 buses by the end of July,” he said.  The officer, when asked about procuring new air-conditioned buses, said that there is no such plan now. The official also admitted that there are hardly 10 air-conditioned buses in the city.