Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai): Difference between revisions

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Last edited March 24, 2026
m Removed empty portal template using script
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{{Short description|Public transport in Chennai}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name            = Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Limited
| name            = Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd.<hr/>Mānakara Pōkkuvarattu Kaḻakam (Ceṉṉai)
| former_name    = Pallavan Transport Corporation
| former_name    = *Pallavan Transport Corporation
| ridership     = 7.5 million/day
*Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation
| image =
| ridership       = 5.902 million per day (2023-24)
| image           =  
| headquarters    = Pallavan House, [[Anna Salai]], [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| headquarters    = Pallavan House, [[Anna Salai]], [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| locale          = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| locale          = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| service_area    = [[Chennai Metropolitan Area]]
| service_area    = [[Chennai Metropolitan Area]]
| service_type    = Ordinary, Express, Deluxe, Air Conditioned Deluxe and Small Bus
| service_type    = Ordinary, Express, Deluxe, Air Conditioned Deluxe and Small Bus
| passangers = 7.5 million per day {{cite news
| passangers     =  
| last1 = Narayanan
| collection      =  
| first1 = Vivek
| last2 = Srikanth
| first2 = R.
| title = MTC: badly in need of a quick fix
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons
| date = 28 August 2018
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/mtc-badly-in-need-of-a-quick-fix/article24795888.ece
| access-date = 2 September 2018}}</ref>
| Daily ridership = 7.5 million per day (May 31, 2017)<ref name=NB>{{cite web |url=https://www.mybmtc.com/en/bmtc_glance |title=BMTC at a glance |publisher=Mybmtc.com |date=2014-07-05 |access-date=2014-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912063013/https://www.mybmtc.com/en/bmtc_glance |archive-date=12 September 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| collection      =
| operator        = [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]
| operator        = [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]
| area served    = [[Chennai Metropolitan Area Ridership 6.0 million/day]]
| parent          = [[Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd.]]
| parent          = [[Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation]]
| sister          = [[State Express Transport Corporation]]  
| website        = https://mtcbus.tn.gov.in
| website        = https://mtcbus.tn.gov.in
|Ridership=6 million per day}}
| logo            = [[File:MTC (Chennai) Logo, 2023.png|320px]]
}}
[[File:Chennai Openstreetmap Public Transport Density Map.png|thumb|Heatmap of the coverage of public transportation in Chennai City]]
[[File:Chennai Openstreetmap Public Transport Density Map.png|thumb|Heatmap of the coverage of public transportation in Chennai City]]


The '''Metropolitan Transport Corporation''' (formerly known as '''Pallavan Transport Corporation'''), sometimes known as the '''MTC''' or '''PTC''', is the agency that operates the [[public transport|public]] [[bus]] service in [[Chennai]], India. As of May 2017, the MTC had a scheduled fleet of 3688 buses and total fleet strength of 3968 buses, on a daily basis carries 6.0 million passengers to and from, which is half the population of Chennai. On March 22, 2016, the Union Transport Ministry reported that Chennai had the most crowded buses in the country with 1300 passengers per bus in each direction per day. During peak hours, in some routes, a bus with capacity to accommodate 80 persons carries twice the number of people due to the extensiveness of the system. It has an operating area of {{convert|3,929|km2}}.<ref name="aboutus">{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.mtcbus.org//aboutus.asp|access-date=2012-11-05|work=Metropolitan Transport Corporation}}</ref> MTC has a total of 830 routes with its largest terminus being [[Broadway bus terminus|Broadway]] in Central Chennai.
The '''Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd. (MTC)''', is the agency that operates the [[public transport|public]] [[bus]] service in [[Chennai]], India. It is a subsidiary of [[Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation|Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd]]. As of August 2024 the MTC had a total fleet of 3,376 buses with 3,233 scheduled services, with on average 5.092 Million passengers on an average per day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd |url=https://mtcbus.tn.gov.in/Home/about |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=mtcbus.tn.gov.in}}</ref>  On March 22, 2016, the [[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways|Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways]] reported that Chennai had the most crowded buses in the country with 1300 passengers per bus in each direction per day.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Karthikeyan Hemalatha|date=Mar 22, 2016 |title=Chennai buses most crowded in the country {{!}} Chennai News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/chennai-buses-most-crowded-in-the-country/articleshow/51505707.cms |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> During peak hours, on some routes, a bus with a capacity to accommodate 80 persons carries twice the number of people due to the extensiveness of the system. It has an operating area of {{convert|3,929|km2}}.<ref name="aboutus">{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.mtcbus.org//aboutus.asp|access-date=2012-11-05|work=Metropolitan Transport Corporation}}</ref> MTC has a total of 668 routes with its largest terminus being [[Broadway bus terminus|Broadway]] in Central Chennai.


==History==
==History==
The Pallavan Transport Corporation Ltd was established on 1 January 1972 with a fleet strength of 1,029 buses. The operational [[jurisdiction]] is the [[Chennai]] Metropolitan area. It served 176 routes and had 8 depots, including those at [[T. Nagar]], [[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]], and [[Vadapalani]]. Depots at [[Anna Nagar]] and [[K.K. Nagar]] were established in 1973.<ref name="TOI_CityNeedsMoreWheels">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtcbus.org/|title=The Growth - MTC|date=11 Dec 2017|publisher=The Times Group|location=Chennai}}</ref> The Pallavan Transport Corporation was split into two and a new Corporation, namely, Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation Ltd. started functioning from 19 January 1994. The depots in the northern areas of the city were brought under Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation Ltd and the southern depots came under Pallavan Transport Corporation. Pallavan Transport Corporation was renamed as Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division - I) Limited and Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation was renamed as Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division - II) Ltd., on 1 July 1997.


In order to make the Corporations viable, and for better administrative control, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division II) was amalgamated with Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division I) Ltd on 10 January 2001. The fleet strength of the [[Corporation]] at 1 March 2009 was 3,260 with 25 depots, a body building unit at [[Chromepet]], a ticket printing press at [[K.K.Nagar]] and Reconditioning Unit at Patullos Road. During the year 2002–2003, 117 buses have been purchased for replacement. After 2007, thousands of number of buses are purchased for new services as well as replacement for old buses.
=== Pallavan Transport Corporation & Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation ===
The Pallavan Transport Corporation Ltd was established on 1 January 1972 with a fleet strength of 1,029 buses. The operational [[jurisdiction]] is the [[Chennai]] Metropolitan area. It served 176 routes and had 8 depots, including those at [[T. Nagar]], [[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]], and [[Vadapalani]]. Depots at [[Anna Nagar]] and [[K.K. Nagar]] were established in 1973.<ref name="TOI_CityNeedsMoreWheels">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtcbus.org/|title=The Growth - MTC|date=11 Dec 2017|publisher=The Times Group|location=Chennai}}</ref> The Pallavan Transport Corporation was split into two and a new Corporation, namely, Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation Ltd. started functioning from 19 January 1994. The depots in the northern areas of the city were brought under Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation Ltd and the southern depots came under Pallavan Transport Corporation. Pallavan Transport Corporation was renamed as Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division - I) Limited and Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation was renamed as Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division - II) Ltd., on 1 July 1997. In order to make the Corporations viable, and for better administrative control, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division II) was amalgamated with Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division I) Ltd on 10 January 2001.


=== Present Day ===
As of 2012, the corporation operates 42,961 services daily in 800 routes.<ref name="MaalaiMalar_16NewDepots">{{cite news
As of 2012, the corporation operates 42,961 services daily in 800 routes.<ref name="MaalaiMalar_16NewDepots">{{cite news
  | title = சென்னையில் கூடுதலாக 16 புதிய பணிமனைகள்: அமைச்சர் செந்தில் பாலாஜி நேரில் ஆய்வு  
  | title = சென்னையில் கூடுதலாக 16 புதிய பணிமனைகள்: அமைச்சர் செந்தில் பாலாஜி நேரில் ஆய்வு  
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  | access-date = 14 Jul 2012}}</ref>
  | access-date = 14 Jul 2012}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable sortable collapsable plainrowheaders"
In May 2017, the MTC had a scheduled fleet of 3688 buses and total fleet strength of 3968 buses.
 
==== 2018 Price Hike ====
On 20 January 2018, the MTC introduced a controversial rise in fares with minimum fares for ordinary buses going up from Rs 2 to Rs 5, and maximum fare going up from Rs 12 to Rs 23, the fares were also hiked for other categories of buses with the minimum fare for Express buses becoming Rs 8 and maximum becoming Rs 35 while the minimum fares of Deluxe buses were Rs 12 and maximum fares Rs 48, this was the first such price hike since 2011. This was followed with an increase in the number of deluxe buses (from 900 to 1200) which were the costliest buses. This led to a 30% fall in the number of daily passengers within 3 months. The MTC had projected a 40% rise in daily revenue from Rs 25 million to Rs 40 million but ended up receiving only Rs 28 million in daily revenue i.e. a 12% increase.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srikanth |first=R. |date=2018-03-29 |title=2 months after fare hike, MTC's commuter base shrinks by 30% |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/2-months-after-fare-hike-mtcs-commuter-base-shrinks-by-30/article23386372.ece |access-date=2022-06-16 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
|+Increase Over the Years<ref name="TOI_CityNeedsMoreWheels"/>
|+Increase Over the Years<ref name="TOI_CityNeedsMoreWheels"/>
|-
|-
!
|Year
|1972
|1972
|2020
|2020
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|-
|-
|Collection/day
|Collection/day
|र0.4 million
|₹0.4 million
|र26.1 million
|₹26.1 million
|-
|-
|Occupancy ratio
|Occupancy ratio
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[[File:MTC-TataMarcopolo2.jpg|thumb|200 px|right|MTC's Tata Marcopolo Bus]]
[[File:MTC-TataMarcopolo2.jpg|thumb|200 px|right|MTC's Tata Marcopolo Bus]]
[[File:CityBus Vestibule.jpg|thumb|200 px|right|New vestibule bus with LED display]]
[[File:CityBus Vestibule.jpg|thumb|200 px|right|New vestibule bus with LED display]]
[[File:MTCVolvo.jpg|thumb|200 px|right|An MTC AC Volvo Service]]
[[File:MTC-AshLey-AC-Bus-570S-Velachery.jpg|thumb|200 px|right|An MTC AC bus]]
[[File:MTC Bus 21G.JPG|thumb|200 px|right|A MTC SLF plying route 21G]]
[[File:MTC Bus 21G.JPG|thumb|200 px|right|A MTC SLF plying route 21G]]


Line 123: Line 118:


'''Semi-Low floor buses'''
'''Semi-Low floor buses'''
The semi-[[low floored]] and deluxe buses have improved passenger amenities like improved lighting, [[plastic moulded]] seats and driver operated pneumatic, doors into its fleet. The first set of such buses from Ashok Leyland were introduced in February 2007. The newer range of these semi-low floor buses supplied under [[JNNURM]] are BS-III compliant and have LED displays. Some continue to ply while most of them are replaced by newer buses
The semi-[[low floored]] and deluxe buses have improved passenger amenities like improved lighting, [[plastic moulded]] seats and driver operated pneumatic, doors into its fleet. The first set of such buses from Ashok Leyland were introduced in February 2007. The newer range of these semi-low floor buses supplied under [[JNNURM]] are BS-III compliant and have LED displays. Some continue to ply while most of them are replaced by newer buses


'''Vestibule services'''
'''Vestibule services'''
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MTC has launched small-bus services to connect remote places of Chennai and its suburbs. These buses are provided by Tata.
MTC has launched small-bus services to connect remote places of Chennai and its suburbs. These buses are provided by Tata.


{| class="wikitable sortable collapsable plainrowheaders"
'''Low-Floor busses''' These buses in the MTC fleet were introduced to improve accessibility for all passengers, especially the elderly and differently-abled. Manufactured by [[Ashok Leyland]], they feature pneumatic doors, low entry steps, and LED route displays. Currently there are about 611 low floor busses running in Chennai. Similarly [[Electric bus|electric]] [[Low-floor bus|low-floor]] busses have also been procured by MTC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jagannath |first=G. |date=2025-05-13 |title=Electric buses roll up at MTC's Perumbakkam depot |url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/chennai/electric-buses-roll-up-at-mtcs-perumbakkam-depot-833402 |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.dtnext.in |language=en}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
|+MTC Fleet Over the Years<ref>{{cite news
|+MTC Fleet Over the Years<ref>{{cite news
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  | date = 20 March 2019
  | date = 20 March 2019
  | url = http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2012/11/16&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode=HTML
  | url = http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2012/11/16&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode=HTML
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091751/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2012/11/16&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode=HTML
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 4 March 2016
  | access-date = 29 Feb 2016}}</ref>
  | access-date = 29 Feb 2016}}</ref>
|-
|-
!Year
|Year
!No. of buses on road
|No. of buses on road
!No. of buses off-road
|No. of buses off-road
!Total
|Total
|-
|-
|2007-2008
|2007–2008
|2,344
|2,344
|287
|287
|2,631
|2,631
|-
|-
|2008-2009
|2008–2009
|2,792
|2,792
|370
|370
|3,162
|3,162
|-
|-
|2009-2010
|2009–2010
|2,958
|2,958
|327
|327
|3,285
|3,285
|-
|-
|2010-2011
|2010–2011
|3,007
|3,007
|355
|355
|3,362
|3,362
|-
|-
|2011-2012
|2011–2012
|3,034
|3,034
|374
|374
|3,408
|3,408
|-
|-
|2012-2013
|2012–2013
|3,027
|3,027
|356
|356
|3,383
|3,383
|-
|-
|2016-2017
|2016–2017
|3,797
|3,797
|167
|167
|3,964
|3,964
|-
|-
|2017-2018
|2017–2018
|4,091
|4,091
|182
|182
|4273
|4273
|-
|-
|2018-2019
|2018–2019
|5,092
|5,092
|194
|194
|5286
|5286
|-
|}
|}
[[File:Ashok Leyland Low Floor Bus.jpg|thumb|201x201px|Low-Floor Bus from Ashok Leyland plying route 147A]]
==Services==
* '''Ordinary Pink City Service''': It is a non-AC bus service with 2+2 bench type non-reclining seater seats built on single-axle [[Ashok Leyland]] chassis with a brown-cream livery with front and back sides in pink. Female passengers can travel for free on these buses.
* '''Ordinary City Service''': It is a non-AC bus service with 2+2 bench type non-reclining seater seats built on single-axle [[Tata Motors|Tata]] chassis with a brown-cream livery.
* '''Mini Bus Service''': It is a non-AC mini bus service with 2+2 bench type non-reclining seater seats built on single-axle [[Ashok Leyland]] chassis with a grey livery. It was launched to connect remote places, suburbs and also act as a feeder service.
* '''Deluxe City Service''': It is a non-AC bus service with 2+2 non-reclining seater seats built on single-axle [[Ashok Leyland]] or [[Tata motors|Tata]] chassis with lesser stops and a red livery.
* '''Deluxe City AC Service''': It is an AC bus service with 2+2 non-reclining seater seats built on single-axle [[Ashok Leyland]] or [[Tata motors|Tata]] chassis with lesser stops and a new red-grey livery.


==Depots==
==Depots==
The Metropolitan Transport Corporation has 33 depots, each with an average parking capacity of 200 buses. Besant nagar depot defunct last year and merged with Adyar
The Metropolitan Transport Corporation had 33 depots in 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-14 |title=Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd |url=https://mtcbus.tn.gov.in/Home/about |access-date=2022-06-16 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814151551/https://mtcbus.tn.gov.in/Home/about |archive-date=14 August 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> each with an average parking capacity of 200 buses.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd |url=https://mtcbus.tn.gov.in/Home/about |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=mtcbus.tn.gov.in}}</ref>  In 2023, the new Kilambakkam depot opened as part of the Kilambakkam Bus Terminus. The Anna Nagar East and Semmencheri depots are planned for inauguration in June – July 2025. In Phase - 1, five bus depots (Vyasarpadi, Perumbakkam, Poonamallee, Central Depot and Tondiarpet - 1) are being upgraded to electric bus depots on a PPP model. The Poonamallee diesel bus depot is temporarily operating from CMBT's 5th and 6th platforms. Once Kuthambakkam Bus Terminus opens, operations will shift there. Thiruvottriyur depot is currently closed for upgrades and parallel bus terminus construction, with operations transferred to Anna Nagar East depot. Alandur depot has been upgraded to an EV bus depot in Phase - 2, so its operations are mostly split to nearby depots, keeping the number of active depots at 33.


The 33 depots of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (as of 2020) are listed below:
The 33 depots of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (as of 2026) are listed below:
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsable plainrowheaders"
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsable plainrowheaders"
|-
|-
|+MTC Depots
|+MTC Depots<ref>{{Cite web |last= |publisher=MTC |date= |title=MTC Home Fleet Scheduled Services |url=https://mtcbus.tn.gov.in/Home/fleet_scheduled_services }}</ref>
|-
|-
!Depot
!Depot
Line 216: Line 226:
|AB
|AB
|NIL
|NIL
|[[Chromepet]]
|[[T. Nagar|T.Nagar]]
|55
|76
|51
|72
|-
|-
|[[Adyar (Chennai)|Adyar]]
|[[Adyar (Chennai)|Adyar]]
Line 224: Line 234:
|B
|B
|[[Adyar (Chennai)|Adyar]]
|[[Adyar (Chennai)|Adyar]]
|146
|196
|135
|188
|-
|-
|[[Alandur]]
|[[Alandur]]
Line 231: Line 241:
|K
|K
|[[Chromepet]]
|[[Chromepet]]
|148
|
|135
|
|-
|-
|[[Ambathur]]
|[[Ambattur Industrial Estate|Ambattur Estate]]
|AM
|AM
|E
|E
|[[Anna Nagar]]
|160
|148
|-
|Anna Nagar East
|AE
|NIL
|[[Ayanavaram]]
|[[Ayanavaram]]
|191
|36
|179
|34
|-
|-
|[[Anna Nagar]]
|[[Anna Nagar West]]
|AN
|AN
|H
|H
|[[Ayanavaram]]
|[[Anna Nagar]]
|243
|201
|208
|191
|-
|-
|[[Avadi]]
|[[Avadi]]
|AV
|AV
|X
|X
|[[Ayanavaram]]
|[[Anna Nagar]]
|159
|178
|151
|168
|-
|-
|[[Ayanavaram]]
|[[Ayanavaram]]
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|C
|C
|[[Ayanavaram]]
|[[Ayanavaram]]
|173
|120
|160
|113
|-
|-
|[[Basin Bridge]]
|[[Basin Bridge]]
|BB
|BB
|NIL
|NIL
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|[[Ayanavaram]]
|45
|84
|41
|78
|-
|-
|[[Besant Nagar]] defunct 2020 merged with Adyar depot
|[[Chennai Central|Central Depot]] (EV)
|BN
|NIL
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|30
|28
|-
|[[Chennai Central|Central Depot]]
|CD
|CD
|NIL
|NIL
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|[[Ayanavaram]]
|178
|80
|165
|75
|-
|-
|[[Chromepet]] - I
|[[Chromepet]] - I
Line 287: Line 297:
|W
|W
|[[Chromepet]]
|[[Chromepet]]
|170
|150
|159
|142
|-
|-
|[[Chromepet]] - II
|[[Chromepet]] - II
Line 294: Line 304:
|NIL
|NIL
|[[Chromepet]]
|[[Chromepet]]
|58
|95
|54
|84
|-
|-
|[[Ennore]]
|[[Ennore]]
Line 301: Line 311:
|K
|K
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|73
|88
|70
|84
|-
|-
|[[Iyyappanthangal]]
|[[Iyyappanthangal]]
|IY
|IY
|Y
|Y
|[[Chromepet]]
|[[Vadapalani]]
|153
|143
|144
|135
|-
|-
|Kannagi Nagar
|Kannagi Nagar
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|NIL
|NIL
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|20
|43
|19
|41
|-
|[[Kilambakkam bus terminus, Chennai|Kilambakkam]]
|KB
|NIL
|[[Chromepet]]
|123
|117
|-
|-
|[[K.K.Nagar]]
|[[K.K.Nagar]]
|KN
|KN
|G
|G
|[[Chromepet]]
|[[T. Nagar|T.Nagar]]
|195
|198
|182
|184
|-
|-
|[[Kundrathur]]
|[[Kundrathur]]
|KU
|KU
|NIL
|NIL
|[[Chromepet]]
|[[Vadapalani]]
|34
|38
|32
|36
|-
|-
|[[Madhavaram]]
|[[Madhavaram, Chennai|Madhavaram]]
|MV
|MV
|F
|F
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|112
|156
|107
|148
|-
|-
|[[Mandavelli]]
|[[Mandavelli|Mandaveli]]/[[Foreshore Estate]]
|MN
|MN
|J
|J
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|90
|69
|84
|65
|-
|[[MKB Nagar]]
|MB
|NIL
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|33
|29
|-
|-
|[[Padiyanallur]]
|[[Padiyanallur]]
Line 357: Line 367:
|NIL
|NIL
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|65
|113
|60
|109
|-
|-
|[[Perambur]]  
|[[Perambur]]  
Line 364: Line 374:
|S
|S
|[[Ayanavaram]]
|[[Ayanavaram]]
|170
|132
|157
|125
|-
|-
|[[Perumbakkam]]  
|[[Perumbakkam]] (EV)
|PA
|PE
|NIL
|NIL
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|58
|131
|58
|125
|-
|-
|[[Poonamallee]]
|[[Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus|Koyambedu]] (Temporary)
|PM
|PM
|V,Z
|NIL
|[[Ayanavaram]]
|[[Vadapalani]]
|182
|173
|171
|164
|-
|[[Poonamallee]] (EV)
|PN
|V, Z
|[[Vadapalani]]
|131
|115
|-
|-
|[[Saidapet]]
|[[Saidapet]]
|SP
|SP
|M
|M
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|[[T. Nagar|T.Nagar]]
|103
|101
|96
|96
|-
|-
|[[Semmencherry]]
|[[Semmencherry|Semmencheri]]
|SM
|SM
|NIL
|NIL
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|24
|41
|22
|39
|-
|[[T.Nagar]]
|TN
|L
|[[T. Nagar|T.Nagar]]
|72
|68
|-
|-
|[[Tambaram]]
|[[Tambaram]]
Line 400: Line 424:
|[[Chromepet]]
|[[Chromepet]]
|202
|202
|189
|193
|-
|[[T.Nagar]]
|TN
|L
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|95
|89
|-
|-
|[[Thiruvanmiyur]]
|[[Thiruvanmiyur]]
Line 413: Line 430:
|R
|R
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|[[Adyar, Chennai|Adyar]]
|140
|126
|135
|113
|-
|-
|[[Thiruvottriyur]]
|[[Thiruvottriyur]]
Line 420: Line 437:
|N
|N
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|104
|
|99
|
|-
|-
|[[Tondiarpet]] - I
|[[Tondiarpet]] - I (EV)
|TD
|TD
|A
|A
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|142
|36
|134
|40
|-
|-
|[[Tondiarpet]] - II
|[[Tondiarpet]] - II
Line 434: Line 451:
|T
|T
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|83
|138
|78
|130
|-
|-
|[[Vadapalani]]
|[[Vadapalani]]
|VP
|VP
|D
|D
|[[Chromepet]]
|[[Vadapalani]]
|205
|178
|194
|168
|-
|-
|[[Vyasarpadi]]
|[[Vyasarpadi]] (EV)
|VY
|VY
|P
|P
|[[Tondiarpet]]
|[[Anna Nagar]]
|111
|136
|104
|130
|-
|-
|colspan=4|'''Total'''
|colspan=4|'''Total'''
|'''3,886'''
|'''3,944'''
|'''3,719'''
|'''3,718'''
|}
|}
== Routes ==
{{main|List of bus routes in Chennai}}


==Revenue==
==Revenue==
As of 2012, MTC's advertisement revenue per month is {{INR}} 86 lakhs.<ref>{{cite news
As of 2012, MTC's advertisement revenue per month is {{INR}} 86 lakhs.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = MTC buses to get LCD monitors
  | title = MTC buses to get LCD monitors
  | newspaper = The Hindu
  | newspaper = The Hindu
  | location = Chennai
  | location = Chennai
Line 469: Line 489:
  | location = Chennai
  | location = Chennai
  | date = 6 November 2012  
  | date = 6 November 2012  
  | url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-06/chennai/34948103_1_mtc-plans-clean-buses-advertisements
  | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/MTC-plans-to-barter-ad-space-for-cleaning-buses/articleshow/17109177.cms
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103072112/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-06/chennai/34948103_1_mtc-plans-clean-buses-advertisements
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103072112/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-06/chennai/34948103_1_mtc-plans-clean-buses-advertisements
  | url-status = dead
  | url-status = live
  | archive-date = 3 January 2013
  | archive-date = 3 January 2013
  | newspaper = [[The Times of India]]
  | newspaper = [[The Times of India]]
  | access-date = 22 Feb 2016}}</ref>
  | access-date = 22 Feb 2016}}</ref>


As of 17 Apr 2013 The total revenue per day of all the buses is 2.75 cr         <ref>[http://m.timesofindia.com/city/chennai/Real-time-info-from-e-machines-helps-improve-Chennai-bus-services-revenues/articleshow/46120523.cms]</ref>
As of 17 Apr 2013 The total revenue per day of all the buses is 2.75 cr<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Real-time-info-from-e-machines-helps-improve-Chennai-bus-services-revenues/articleshow/46120523.cms|title = Real-time info from e-machines helps improve Chennai bus services, revenues &#124; Chennai News - Times of India|website = [[The Times of India]]| date=4 February 2015 }}</ref>


==Occupancy==
==Occupancy==
The MTC buses have an occupancy ratio (average number of passengers to total seating capacity in a bus) of 84.35%. Each MTC bus can carry 72 people, including 24 standing passengers. The occupancy ratio in Chennai is amongst the highest for the 38 transport corporations in the country.<ref>{{cite news|last=Karthikeyan Hemalatha|title=Chennai buses burst at seams|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH%2F2013%2F02%2F23&ViewMode=GIF&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&AppName=1|access-date=16 October 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=23 February 2013}}</ref>  
The MTC buses have an occupancy ratio (average number of passengers to total seating capacity in a bus) of 84.35%. Each MTC bus can carry 72 people, including 24 standing passengers. The occupancy ratio in Chennai is amongst the highest for the 38 transport corporations in the country.<ref>{{cite news|last=Karthikeyan Hemalatha|title=Chennai buses burst at seams|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH%2F2013%2F02%2F23&ViewMode=GIF&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&AppName=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017194356/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH%2F2013%2F02%2F23&ViewMode=GIF&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&AppName=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 October 2013|access-date=16 October 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=23 February 2013}}</ref>  
<ref name="hard ride for aged">{{cite news|last=Karthikeyan Hemalatha|title=HARD RIDE FOR AGED IN CITY|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH%2F2013%2F10%2F16&ViewMode=GIF&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&AppName=1|access-date=16 October 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=16 October 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="hard ride for aged">{{cite news|last=Karthikeyan Hemalatha|title=HARD RIDE FOR AGED IN CITY|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH%2F2013%2F10%2F16&ViewMode=GIF&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&AppName=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017194354/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH%2F2013%2F10%2F16&ViewMode=GIF&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&AppName=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 October 2013|access-date=16 October 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=16 October 2013}}</ref>


==Connectivity with MRTS and airport==
==Connectivity with MRTS and airport==
Line 491: Line 511:
  | date = 16 August 2011
  | date = 16 August 2011
  | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article2360025.ece
  | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article2360025.ece
  | access-date = 15 August 2012}}</ref> Some of the MRTS stations are located away from bus stops which makes transfers difficult.<ref name="too far">{{cite news|last=Liffy Thomas and T.Madhavan|title=Train stations, a road too far|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/train-stations-a-road-too-far/article5203744.ece|access-date=14 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu, Chennai|date=5 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=G Ananthakrishnan|title=Not all together here|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/not-all-together-here/article5157531.ece|access-date=14 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu, Chennai|date=23 Sep 2013}}</ref> Recently mini-buses have started to ply as a feeder to plug the gaps in connectivity. There are buses to various parts of the city from the airport and some air passengers and many airport employees, use the service. The bus stop is close to the international terminal.<ref name="airport long walk">{{cite news|last=Sunitha Sekar|title=For passengers, it's a long walk from airport to bus stop|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/for-passengers-its-a-long-walk-from-airport-to-bus-stop/article4775943.ece|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=3 June 2013}}</ref>
  | access-date = 15 August 2012}}</ref> Some of the MRTS stations are located away from bus stops which makes transfers difficult.<ref name="too far">{{cite news|last=Liffy Thomas and T.Madhavan|title=Train stations, a road too far|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/train-stations-a-road-too-far/article5203744.ece|access-date=14 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu, Chennai|date=5 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=G Ananthakrishnan|title=Not all together here|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/not-all-together-here/article5157531.ece|access-date=14 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu, Chennai|date=23 Sep 2013}}</ref> Recently mini-buses have started to ply as a feeder to plug the gaps in connectivity. There are buses to various parts of the city from the airport and some air passengers and many airport employees, use the service. The bus stop is close to the international terminal.<ref name="airport long walk">{{cite news|last=Sunitha Sekar|title=For passengers, it's a long walk from airport to bus stop|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/for-passengers-its-a-long-walk-from-airport-to-bus-stop/article4775943.ece|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=3 June 2013}}</ref>


==Accidents==
==Accidents==
The accident rate of MTC is high compared to similar metropolitan transport corporations in the country.<ref name=accidents1>{{cite news|last=Karthikeyan Hemalatha|title=No stopping MTC killing spree|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/11/30&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode=HTML|access-date=3 December 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=30 November 2013}}</ref>  In Chennai, 104 people died in 2012 in accidents involving MTC buses. The driver unions are blamed for violations going unpunished and continuing unabated.<ref name="fewer buses">{{cite news|last=Karthikeyan Hemalatha|title=Despite fewer buses, MTC's death rate overtakes other fleets|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=2 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
The accident rate of MTC is high compared to similar metropolitan transport corporations in the country.<ref name=accidents1>{{cite news|last=Karthikeyan Hemalatha|title=No stopping MTC killing spree|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/11/30&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode=HTML|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206051651/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/11/30&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&ViewMode=HTML|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 December 2013|access-date=3 December 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=30 November 2013}}</ref>  In Chennai, 104 people died in 2012 in accidents involving MTC buses. The driver unions are blamed for violations going unpunished and continuing unabated.<ref name="fewer buses">{{cite news|last=Karthikeyan Hemalatha|title=Despite fewer buses, MTC's death rate overtakes other fleets|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=2 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
  | title = Driver of bus that fell off Anna flyover dismissed by MTC  
  | title = Driver of bus that fell off Anna flyover dismissed by MTC  
  | location = Chennai
  | location = Chennai
  | date = 25 October 2012  
  | date = 25 October 2012  
  | url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-25/chennai/34728792_1_mtc-drivers-mtc-buses-flyover
  | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Driver-of-bus-that-fell-off-Anna-flyover-dismissed-by-MTC/articleshow/16947389.cms
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131208001455/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-25/chennai/34728792_1_mtc-drivers-mtc-buses-flyover
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131208001455/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-25/chennai/34728792_1_mtc-drivers-mtc-buses-flyover
  | url-status = dead
  | url-status = live
  | archive-date = 8 December 2013
  | archive-date = 8 December 2013
  | newspaper = [[The Times of India]]
  | newspaper = [[The Times of India]]
Line 518: Line 538:
|+People killed in accidents involving MTC buses
|+People killed in accidents involving MTC buses
|-
|-
! 2007 !! 2008 !! 2009 !! 2010 !! 2011 !! 2012 !! 2013 !! 2016 !! 2017 !! 2018 !! 2019
!style="background:white"|Year
!style="background:violet"|2007
!style="background:red"|2008
!style="background:green"|2009
!style="background:lightblue"|2010
!style="background:pink"|2011
!style="background:yellow"|2012
!style="background:lightgreen"|2013
!style="background:grey"|2016
!style="background:orange"|2017
!style="background:blue"|2018
!style="background:ivory"|2019
|-
|-
| 142 || 145 || 138 || 132 || 112 || 104 || 98 || 94 || 35 || 24 || 120
!style="background:white"|Fatal
!style="background:grey"|142
!style="background:orange"|145
!style="background:violet"|138
!style="background:red"|132
!style="background:green"|112
!style="background:lightblue"|104
!style="background:gold"|98
!style="background:ivory"|94
!style="background:pink"|35
!style="background:lightgreen"|24
!style="background:yellow"|120
|}
|}


Line 527: Line 569:
|+Accidents over the years<ref name="IE_MTCKillsOverA100"/>
|+Accidents over the years<ref name="IE_MTCKillsOverA100"/>
|-
|-
!Year
!style="background:beige"|Year
!Fatal
!style="background:red"|Fatal
!Non-fatal
!style="background:ivory"|Non-fatal
|-
!style="background:lightgreen"|2009
!style="background:red"|109
!style="background:yellow"|384
|-
|-
|2009
!style="background:lightgreen"|2010
|109
!style="background:red"|106
|384
!style="background:yellow"|351
|-
|-
|2010
!style="background:lightgreen"|2011
|106
!style="background:red"|112
|351
!style="background:yellow"|436
|-
|-
|2011
!style="background:lightgreen"|2012
|112
!style="background:red"|103
|436
!style="background:yellow"|351
|-
|-
|2012
!style="background:lightgreen"|2013
|103
!style="background:red"|62
|351
!style="background:yellow"|215
|-
|-
|2013
!style="background:lightgreen"|2016
|62
!style="background:red"|61
|215
!style="background:yellow"|214
|-
|-
|2016
!style="background:lightgreen"|2017
|61
!style="background:red"|35
|214
!style="background:yellow"|516
|-
|-
|2017
!style="background:lightgreen"|2018
|35
!style="background:red"|24
|516
!style="background:yellow"|401
|-
|-
|2018
!style="background:lightgreen"|2019
|24
!style="background:red"|120
|401
!style="background:yellow"|432
|-
|-
|2019
|120
|432
|}
|}


To mitigate the no. of accidents, officials of the corporation and the traffic police conduct refresher courses and yoga classes for MTC drivers.<ref name="fewer buses"/><ref name="stress break rules">{{cite news|last=N Vinoth Kumar|title=Stressed into breaking the rules, say MTC drivers|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Stressed-into-breaking-the-rules-say-MTC-drivers/2013/08/01/article1711518.ece|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express, Chennai|date=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="crowded bus kill">{{cite news|last=Karthikeyan Hemalatha|title=Crowded buses kill as MTC uses few in fleet|url=http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?articles=yes&pageid=2&max=true&articleid=Ar00202&sectid=1edid=&edlabel=TOICH&mydateHid=12-12-2012&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Chennai+-+Times+City&title=Crowded+buses+kill+as+MTC+uses+few+in+fleet&edname=&publabel=TOI|access-date=16 October 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=12 December 2012}}</ref>
To mitigate the no. of accidents, officials of the corporation and the traffic police conduct refresher courses and yoga classes for MTC drivers.<ref name="fewer buses"/><ref name="stress break rules">{{cite news|last=N Vinoth Kumar|title=Stressed into breaking the rules, say MTC drivers|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Stressed-into-breaking-the-rules-say-MTC-drivers/2013/08/01/article1711518.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803200022/http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Stressed-into-breaking-the-rules-say-MTC-drivers/2013/08/01/article1711518.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 August 2013|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express, Chennai|date=1 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="crowded bus kill">{{cite news|last=Karthikeyan Hemalatha|title=Crowded buses kill as MTC uses few in fleet|url=http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?articles=yes&pageid=2&max=true&articleid=Ar00202&sectid=1edid=&edlabel=TOICH&mydateHid=12-12-2012&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Chennai+-+Times+City&title=Crowded+buses+kill+as+MTC+uses+few+in+fleet&edname=&publabel=TOI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016075425/http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?articles=yes&pageid=2&max=true&articleid=Ar00202&sectid=1edid=&edlabel=TOICH&mydateHid=12-12-2012&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Chennai+-+Times+City&title=Crowded+buses+kill+as+MTC+uses+few+in+fleet&edname=&publabel=TOI|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2013|access-date=16 October 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=12 December 2012}}</ref>


==Criticism==
==Complaints and Issues Faced==
There have complaints about operator behavior<ref name="law unto">{{cite news|last=MTC drivers: a law unto themselves?|title=MTC drivers: a law unto themselves?|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/MTC-drivers-a-law-unto-themselves/2013/07/30/article1708099.ece|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express, Chennai|date=30 July 2013}}</ref> on MTC buses and these have been effectively addressed by the administration by having special counseling and yoga sessions for the workers.<ref name="mtc admits rude crew">{{cite news|last=Christin Mathew Philip|title=Drivers rude, MTC officials admit after 2,000 complaints|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/10/18&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Ar00601&ViewMode=HTML|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=18 Oct 2013}}</ref><ref name="bus stop oxymoron">{{cite news|last=Rajagopalan Venkataraman|title=Bus-stop, an oxymoron for MTC drivers?|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Bus-stop-an-oxymoron-for-MTC-drivers/2013/07/31/article1709848.ece|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express, Chennai|date=31 July 2013}}</ref> The entrances to most buses have at least two steps. This poses difficulty for some passengers to alight or board the buses.<ref name="hanging danger">{{cite news|last=M Ramya & Karthikeyan Hemalatha|title=The Hanging danger|url=http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?articles=yes&pageid=2&max=true&articleid=Ar00202&sectid=1edid=&edlabel=TOICH&mydateHid=12-12-2012&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Chennai+-+Times+City&title=Crowded+buses+kill+as+MTC+uses+few+in+fleet&edname=&publabel=TOI|access-date=16 October 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=12 Dec 2012}}</ref> Some of the bus stations are poorly maintained.<ref>{{cite news|last=Adarsh Jain|title=Broadway MTC terminus now a stinking problem|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/12/22&PageLabel=5&EntityId=Ar00502&ViewMode=HTML|access-date=22 December 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=22 December 2013}}</ref>


MTC officials are under pressure from councilors and MLAs to introduce new bus routes to or through their constituency even though such a move may not be the most profitable of options. "While this is not always bad as certain routes need to be run even if they are not profitable, MTC as an operator should cover its basics first and meet the demands along high-capacity routes," said an expert in the field of public transport.
=== Overcrowding and infrequency ===
MTC buses can be very overcrowded with footboard traveling being a common occurrence in the ordinary buses with no doors, which has led to numerous accidents.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Ram Sundaram|date=Dec 9, 2021 |title=Govt Cracks Whip On Footboard Travelling {{!}} Chennai News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/govt-cracks-whip-on-footboard-travelling/articleshow/88175033.cms |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> The main reason for this overcrowding being the fact number of buses operated by the MTC is not enough to meet the requirement of such a large city, with the city needing a fleet of 5,160 buses just to meet the [[Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs|Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs]] benchmark of 60 buses per 100,000 people, which in 2022 would require 1,706 additional buses. In addition a 2016 report by the [[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways|Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways]]  found 72.1% of the buses to be overage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Natarajan |first=Aruna |date=2019-06-07 |title=Does Chennai have enough buses for its commuters? |url=https://chennai.citizenmatters.in/chennai-bus-service-mtc-routes-vs-metro-mrts-10194 |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Citizen Matters, Chennai |language=en-GB}}</ref>
 
MTC buses are also notorious for [[bus bunching]] (i.e. two or more buses of the same route arriving together) with commuters frequently complaining about not being able to get a bus for another 30 minutes afterwards. Many routes also suffer from a low frequency of buses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jagannath |first=G. |title=A bus load of problems plagues MTC |url=https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/05/16/a-bus-load-of-problems-plagues-mtc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517025603/https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/05/16/a-bus-load-of-problems-plagues-mtc |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 May 2022 |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=DT next |language=en}}</ref>
 
=== Finances ===
MTC has been a loss making company for a long time which has hampered its ability to improve services or add new buses, however its previous attempt to increase fares in 2018 ended up causing a steep decline in daily passengers resulting in an even greater loss of ₹730.45 crore in financial year 2017–18 as against ₹519.48 crore in the previous financial year of 2016–17. MTC finances are also strained by the constant hikes in fuel prices.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srikanth |first=R. |date=2019-07-16 |title=MTC's financial woes balloon as patronage plunges to a new low |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/mtcs-financial-woes-balloon-as-patronage-plunges-to-a-new-low/article28494360.ece |access-date=2022-06-16 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> This weak financial position has led to it cutting back on some services.
 
Due to its weak financial position, MTC along with other STCs have found it difficult to pay their employees retirement benefits, dearness allowance, pensions, etc., with many social security measures remaining only on paper. The amount deducted from the employees' wages for welfare measures (such as health insurance) and retirement benefits is used up to finance day-to-day operation, resulting in the organisation being reliant on the state government to release funds for retirement benefits. Many retired employees have to wait for months to receive their pension, and dearness allowance arrears have been pending for years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srikanth |first=R. |date=2022-07-16 |title=Hitting the brakes on retirement benefits |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/hitting-the-brakes-on-retirement-benefits/article65647218.ece |access-date=2022-07-17 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
 
=== Other issues ===
There have complaints about operator behavior<ref name="law unto">{{cite news|last=MTC drivers: a law unto themselves?|title=MTC drivers: a law unto themselves?|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/MTC-drivers-a-law-unto-themselves/2013/07/30/article1708099.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802092800/http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/MTC-drivers-a-law-unto-themselves/2013/07/30/article1708099.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 August 2013|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express, Chennai|date=30 July 2013}}</ref> on MTC buses and these have been effectively addressed by the administration by having special counseling and yoga sessions for the workers.<ref name="mtc admits rude crew">{{cite news|last=Christin Mathew Philip|title=Drivers rude, MTC officials admit after 2,000 complaints|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/10/18&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Ar00601&ViewMode=HTML|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021183015/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/10/18&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Ar00601&ViewMode=HTML|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 October 2013|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=18 Oct 2013}}</ref><ref name="bus stop oxymoron">{{cite news|last=Rajagopalan Venkataraman|title=Bus-stop, an oxymoron for MTC drivers?|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Bus-stop-an-oxymoron-for-MTC-drivers/2013/07/31/article1709848.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023141435/http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Bus-stop-an-oxymoron-for-MTC-drivers/2013/07/31/article1709848.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 October 2013|access-date=18 October 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express, Chennai|date=31 July 2013}}</ref> The entrances to most buses have at least two steps. This poses difficulty for some passengers to alight or board the buses.<ref name="hanging danger">{{cite news|last=M Ramya & Karthikeyan Hemalatha|title=The Hanging danger|url=http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?articles=yes&pageid=2&max=true&articleid=Ar00202&sectid=1edid=&edlabel=TOICH&mydateHid=12-12-2012&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Chennai+-+Times+City&title=Crowded+buses+kill+as+MTC+uses+few+in+fleet&edname=&publabel=TOI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016075425/http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?articles=yes&pageid=2&max=true&articleid=Ar00202&sectid=1edid=&edlabel=TOICH&mydateHid=12-12-2012&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Chennai+-+Times+City&title=Crowded+buses+kill+as+MTC+uses+few+in+fleet&edname=&publabel=TOI|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2013|access-date=16 October 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=12 Dec 2012}}</ref> Some of the bus stations are poorly maintained.<ref>{{cite news|last=Adarsh Jain|title=Broadway MTC terminus now a stinking problem|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/12/22&PageLabel=5&EntityId=Ar00502&ViewMode=HTML|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224102954/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/12/22&PageLabel=5&EntityId=Ar00502&ViewMode=HTML|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 December 2013|access-date=22 December 2013|newspaper=The Times of India, Chennai|date=22 December 2013}}</ref>
 
MTC officials are under pressure from councilors and MLAs to introduce new bus routes to or through their constituency even though such a move may not be the most profitable of options. "While this is not always bad as certain routes need to be run even if they are not profitable, MTC as an operator should cover its basics first and meet the demands along high-capacity routes," said an expert in the field of public transport.{{Citation needed|reason=No source to back statement up. Reads like a newspaper quote.|date=January 2022}}


== See also ==
== See also ==
{{Portal|India}}


*
* [[State Express Transport Corporation]]
* [[State Express Transport Corporation]]
* [[TamilNadu State Transport Corporation - Salem]]
* [[Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation]]
* [[TamilNadu State Transport Corporation - Villupuram]]
* [[TamilNadu State Transport Corporation - Kumbakonam]]
* [[TamilNadu State Transport Corporation - Coimbatore]]
* [[TamilNadu State Transport Corporation - Madurai]]
* [[TamilNadu State Transport Corporation - Tirunelveli]]
 
* [[Transport in Chennai]]
* [[Transport in Chennai]]


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== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai)}}
{{Commons category|Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai)}}
* {{Official website|http://mtcbus.org|MTCBus.org - official website}}
* {{Official website|https://mtcbus.tn.gov.in|Official website}}
* [http://www.tn.gov.in/rti/proactive/transport/handbook_mtc.pdf Operation details under RTI]
* [http://www.tn.gov.in/rti/proactive/transport/handbook_mtc.pdf Operation details under RTI]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110924181019/http://busroutes.in/chennai/ BusRoutes.In - Chennai bus and train route maps]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110924181019/http://busroutes.in/chennai/ BusRoutes.In - Chennai bus and train route maps]
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{{Chennai Topics|left}}
{{Chennai Topics|left}}
{{Transport in Chennai}}
{{Transport in Chennai}}
{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}


[[Category:Transport in Chennai]]
[[Category:Transport in Chennai]]
[[Category:State road transport corporations of India]]
[[Category:Bus companies of India]]
[[Category:Companies based in Chennai]]
[[Category:Companies based in Chennai]]
[[Category:Government-owned companies of India]]
[[Category:Metropolitan transport agencies of India]]
[[Category:Metropolitan transport agencies of India]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1974]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1974]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]

Latest revision as of 15:23, 24 March 2026


Template:Infobox Bus transit

Heatmap of the coverage of public transportation in Chennai City

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd. (MTC), is the agency that operates the public bus service in Chennai, India. It is a subsidiary of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd. As of August 2024 the MTC had a total fleet of 3,376 buses with 3,233 scheduled services, with on average 5.092 Million passengers on an average per day.[1] On March 22, 2016, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways reported that Chennai had the most crowded buses in the country with 1300 passengers per bus in each direction per day.[2] During peak hours, on some routes, a bus with a capacity to accommodate 80 persons carries twice the number of people due to the extensiveness of the system. It has an operating area of 3,929 square kilometres (1,517 sq mi).[3] MTC has a total of 668 routes with its largest terminus being Broadway in Central Chennai.

History[edit | edit source]

Pallavan Transport Corporation & Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation[edit | edit source]

The Pallavan Transport Corporation Ltd was established on 1 January 1972 with a fleet strength of 1,029 buses. The operational jurisdiction is the Chennai Metropolitan area. It served 176 routes and had 8 depots, including those at T. Nagar, Adyar, and Vadapalani. Depots at Anna Nagar and K.K. Nagar were established in 1973.[4] The Pallavan Transport Corporation was split into two and a new Corporation, namely, Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation Ltd. started functioning from 19 January 1994. The depots in the northern areas of the city were brought under Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation Ltd and the southern depots came under Pallavan Transport Corporation. Pallavan Transport Corporation was renamed as Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division - I) Limited and Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation was renamed as Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division - II) Ltd., on 1 July 1997. In order to make the Corporations viable, and for better administrative control, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division II) was amalgamated with Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Madras Division I) Ltd on 10 January 2001.

Present Day[edit | edit source]

As of 2012, the corporation operates 42,961 services daily in 800 routes.[5] The driver strength at MTC is 5,000 as against a required driver strength of 5,800.[6]

In May 2017, the MTC had a scheduled fleet of 3688 buses and total fleet strength of 3968 buses.

2018 Price Hike[edit | edit source]

On 20 January 2018, the MTC introduced a controversial rise in fares with minimum fares for ordinary buses going up from Rs 2 to Rs 5, and maximum fare going up from Rs 12 to Rs 23, the fares were also hiked for other categories of buses with the minimum fare for Express buses becoming Rs 8 and maximum becoming Rs 35 while the minimum fares of Deluxe buses were Rs 12 and maximum fares Rs 48, this was the first such price hike since 2011. This was followed with an increase in the number of deluxe buses (from 900 to 1200) which were the costliest buses. This led to a 30% fall in the number of daily passengers within 3 months. The MTC had projected a 40% rise in daily revenue from Rs 25 million to Rs 40 million but ended up receiving only Rs 28 million in daily revenue i.e. a 12% increase.[7]

Increase Over the Years[4]
Year 1972 2020
Depots 8 33
Fleet 1,029 4,599
Scheduled Services 892 5,099
Route 209 895
Employees 20,159 24,202
Passenger/day 2.2 million 5.8 million
Collection/day ₹0.4 million ₹26.1 million
Occupancy ratio NA 71.42%

Fleet[edit | edit source]

The total size of fleet of the MTC is 3688, of which 3492 buses are operated every day on an average. MTC operates over 5000 services daily covering about 830 routes. The last time buses were added to the fleet was in January 2020.[8]

Per RTO rules, an MTC bus could accommodate a maximum of 83 passengers, including 48 sitting and 27 standing. However, buses carry over 160 passengers in some routes, especially during peak hours, with many travelling on the footboard of the bus resulting in several accidents. According to Union Transport Ministry of India on March 22, 2016, Chennai was reported to have the most crowded buses in the country with 1300 passengers per bus per day per direction. This is due to the extensive routes the buses ply to and also the cost which is reasonably less than some of the major cities in the country. An exclusive and efficient BRTS on dedicated elevated roads is being proposed by MTC as well as the Tamil Nadu Government in order to improve the share of public transport. For a city like Chennai, ideally more than 60% of the people should be using public transport systems. However, owing to its vehicle density which is the second highest in the country, only 40% of the citizenry use public transport which is quite low.

Deluxe bus from Ashok Leyland
An ordinary fare (white board) bus
MTC's Tata Marcopolo Bus
New vestibule bus with LED display
An MTC AC bus
A MTC SLF plying route 21G

Normal buses These buses in the MTC fleet were manufactured by Ashok Leyland and Tata Motors. These buses were launched in the 1990s and some continue to ply while the majority have been replaced in favor of newer buses.

Semi-Low floor buses The semi-low floored and deluxe buses have improved passenger amenities like improved lighting, plastic moulded seats and driver operated pneumatic, doors into its fleet. The first set of such buses from Ashok Leyland were introduced in February 2007. The newer range of these semi-low floor buses supplied under JNNURM are BS-III compliant and have LED displays. Some continue to ply while most of them are replaced by newer buses

Vestibule services MTC also runs articulated buses provided by Ashok Leyland in congested routes. The fares are similar to those of ordinary services. These buses have 2 conductors, plastic moulded seats and LED boards. Around the end of 2017, some of these buses are condemned and no longer in service.

Air-conditioned buses MTC earlier operated low-floor Volvo B7RLE air-conditioned buses on selected routes. There were 100 of these buses running on select routes at regular intervals when they were introduced. They stopped operating in 2018 owing to poor and higher cost of maintenance, and replaced in favor of newer Ashok Leyland electric buses.[9]

Small buses MTC has launched small-bus services to connect remote places of Chennai and its suburbs. These buses are provided by Tata.

Low-Floor busses These buses in the MTC fleet were introduced to improve accessibility for all passengers, especially the elderly and differently-abled. Manufactured by Ashok Leyland, they feature pneumatic doors, low entry steps, and LED route displays. Currently there are about 611 low floor busses running in Chennai. Similarly electric low-floor busses have also been procured by MTC.[10]

MTC Fleet Over the Years[11]
Year No. of buses on road No. of buses off-road Total
2007–2008 2,344 287 2,631
2008–2009 2,792 370 3,162
2009–2010 2,958 327 3,285
2010–2011 3,007 355 3,362
2011–2012 3,034 374 3,408
2012–2013 3,027 356 3,383
2016–2017 3,797 167 3,964
2017–2018 4,091 182 4273
2018–2019 5,092 194 5286
Low-Floor Bus from Ashok Leyland plying route 147A

Services[edit | edit source]

  • Ordinary Pink City Service: It is a non-AC bus service with 2+2 bench type non-reclining seater seats built on single-axle Ashok Leyland chassis with a brown-cream livery with front and back sides in pink. Female passengers can travel for free on these buses.
  • Ordinary City Service: It is a non-AC bus service with 2+2 bench type non-reclining seater seats built on single-axle Tata chassis with a brown-cream livery.
  • Mini Bus Service: It is a non-AC mini bus service with 2+2 bench type non-reclining seater seats built on single-axle Ashok Leyland chassis with a grey livery. It was launched to connect remote places, suburbs and also act as a feeder service.
  • Deluxe City Service: It is a non-AC bus service with 2+2 non-reclining seater seats built on single-axle Ashok Leyland or Tata chassis with lesser stops and a red livery.
  • Deluxe City AC Service: It is an AC bus service with 2+2 non-reclining seater seats built on single-axle Ashok Leyland or Tata chassis with lesser stops and a new red-grey livery.

Depots[edit | edit source]

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation had 33 depots in 2020,[12] each with an average parking capacity of 200 buses.[13] In 2023, the new Kilambakkam depot opened as part of the Kilambakkam Bus Terminus. The Anna Nagar East and Semmencheri depots are planned for inauguration in June – July 2025. In Phase - 1, five bus depots (Vyasarpadi, Perumbakkam, Poonamallee, Central Depot and Tondiarpet - 1) are being upgraded to electric bus depots on a PPP model. The Poonamallee diesel bus depot is temporarily operating from CMBT's 5th and 6th platforms. Once Kuthambakkam Bus Terminus opens, operations will shift there. Thiruvottriyur depot is currently closed for upgrades and parallel bus terminus construction, with operations transferred to Anna Nagar East depot. Alandur depot has been upgraded to an EV bus depot in Phase - 2, so its operations are mostly split to nearby depots, keeping the number of active depots at 33.

The 33 depots of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (as of 2026) are listed below:

MTC Depots[14]
Depot Depot code Old code Region Fleet strength Scheduled services
Adambakkam AB NIL T.Nagar 76 72
Adyar AD B Adyar 196 188
Alandur AL K Chromepet
Ambattur Estate AM E Anna Nagar 160 148
Anna Nagar East AE NIL Ayanavaram 36 34
Anna Nagar West AN H Anna Nagar 201 191
Avadi AV X Anna Nagar 178 168
Ayanavaram AY C Ayanavaram 120 113
Basin Bridge BB NIL Ayanavaram 84 78
Central Depot (EV) CD NIL Ayanavaram 80 75
Chromepet - I CR W Chromepet 150 142
Chromepet - II CW NIL Chromepet 95 84
Ennore EN K Tondiarpet 88 84
Iyyappanthangal IY Y Vadapalani 143 135
Kannagi Nagar KA NIL Adyar 43 41
Kilambakkam KB NIL Chromepet 123 117
K.K.Nagar KN G T.Nagar 198 184
Kundrathur KU NIL Vadapalani 38 36
Madhavaram MV F Tondiarpet 156 148
Mandaveli/Foreshore Estate MN J Adyar 69 65
Padiyanallur PL NIL Tondiarpet 113 109
Perambur PR S Ayanavaram 132 125
Perumbakkam (EV) PE NIL Adyar 131 125
Koyambedu (Temporary) PM NIL Vadapalani 173 164
Poonamallee (EV) PN V, Z Vadapalani 131 115
Saidapet SP M T.Nagar 101 96
Semmencheri SM NIL Adyar 41 39
T.Nagar TN L T.Nagar 72 68
Tambaram TA O Chromepet 202 193
Thiruvanmiyur TR R Adyar 126 113
Thiruvottriyur TV N Tondiarpet
Tondiarpet - I (EV) TD A Tondiarpet 36 40
Tondiarpet - II TW T Tondiarpet 138 130
Vadapalani VP D Vadapalani 178 168
Vyasarpadi (EV) VY P Anna Nagar 136 130
Total 3,944 3,718

Routes[edit | edit source]

Revenue[edit | edit source]

As of 2012, MTC's advertisement revenue per month is 86 lakhs.[15] About 2,000 of the MTC's 3,400 buses have been maintained by companies that advertise on the buses since December 2011, but the advertisement space was open for all to bid. In 2012, MTC decided to allow only those companies that take up the cleaning assignment. Still they will have to pay the market rate for the space, while they will get paid for the cleaning. As of 2012, the corporation pays 18 per bus per cleaner every day.[16]

As of 17 Apr 2013 The total revenue per day of all the buses is 2.75 cr[17]

Occupancy[edit | edit source]

The MTC buses have an occupancy ratio (average number of passengers to total seating capacity in a bus) of 84.35%. Each MTC bus can carry 72 people, including 24 standing passengers. The occupancy ratio in Chennai is amongst the highest for the 38 transport corporations in the country.[18] [19]

Connectivity with MRTS and airport[edit | edit source]

The MTC services are not integrated with the Mass Rapid Transit System.[20] Some of the MRTS stations are located away from bus stops which makes transfers difficult.[21][22] Recently mini-buses have started to ply as a feeder to plug the gaps in connectivity. There are buses to various parts of the city from the airport and some air passengers and many airport employees, use the service. The bus stop is close to the international terminal.[23]

Accidents[edit | edit source]

The accident rate of MTC is high compared to similar metropolitan transport corporations in the country.[24] In Chennai, 104 people died in 2012 in accidents involving MTC buses. The driver unions are blamed for violations going unpunished and continuing unabated.[25][26] [27]

People killed in accidents involving MTC buses
Year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2016 2017 2018 2019
Fatal 142 145 138 132 112 104 98 94 35 24 120
Accidents over the years[27]
Year Fatal Non-fatal
2009 109 384
2010 106 351
2011 112 436
2012 103 351
2013 62 215
2016 61 214
2017 35 516
2018 24 401
2019 120 432

To mitigate the no. of accidents, officials of the corporation and the traffic police conduct refresher courses and yoga classes for MTC drivers.[25][28][29]

Complaints and Issues Faced[edit | edit source]

Overcrowding and infrequency[edit | edit source]

MTC buses can be very overcrowded with footboard traveling being a common occurrence in the ordinary buses with no doors, which has led to numerous accidents.[30] The main reason for this overcrowding being the fact number of buses operated by the MTC is not enough to meet the requirement of such a large city, with the city needing a fleet of 5,160 buses just to meet the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs benchmark of 60 buses per 100,000 people, which in 2022 would require 1,706 additional buses. In addition a 2016 report by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways found 72.1% of the buses to be overage.[31]

MTC buses are also notorious for bus bunching (i.e. two or more buses of the same route arriving together) with commuters frequently complaining about not being able to get a bus for another 30 minutes afterwards. Many routes also suffer from a low frequency of buses.[32]

Finances[edit | edit source]

MTC has been a loss making company for a long time which has hampered its ability to improve services or add new buses, however its previous attempt to increase fares in 2018 ended up causing a steep decline in daily passengers resulting in an even greater loss of ₹730.45 crore in financial year 2017–18 as against ₹519.48 crore in the previous financial year of 2016–17. MTC finances are also strained by the constant hikes in fuel prices.[33] This weak financial position has led to it cutting back on some services.

Due to its weak financial position, MTC along with other STCs have found it difficult to pay their employees retirement benefits, dearness allowance, pensions, etc., with many social security measures remaining only on paper. The amount deducted from the employees' wages for welfare measures (such as health insurance) and retirement benefits is used up to finance day-to-day operation, resulting in the organisation being reliant on the state government to release funds for retirement benefits. Many retired employees have to wait for months to receive their pension, and dearness allowance arrears have been pending for years.[34]

Other issues[edit | edit source]

There have complaints about operator behavior[35] on MTC buses and these have been effectively addressed by the administration by having special counseling and yoga sessions for the workers.[36][37] The entrances to most buses have at least two steps. This poses difficulty for some passengers to alight or board the buses.[38] Some of the bus stations are poorly maintained.[39]

MTC officials are under pressure from councilors and MLAs to introduce new bus routes to or through their constituency even though such a move may not be the most profitable of options. "While this is not always bad as certain routes need to be run even if they are not profitable, MTC as an operator should cover its basics first and meet the demands along high-capacity routes," said an expert in the field of public transport.[citation needed]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd". mtcbus.tn.gov.in. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  2. Karthikeyan Hemalatha (22 March 2016). "Chennai buses most crowded in the country | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  3. "About Us". Metropolitan Transport Corporation. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "The Growth - MTC". Chennai: The Times Group. 11 December 2017.
  5. "சென்னையில் கூடுதலாக 16 புதிய பணிமனைகள்: அமைச்சர் செந்தில் பாலாஜி நேரில் ஆய்வு". Maalai Malar (in தமிழ்). Chennai. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  6. Narayanan, Vivek (14 July 2012). "Beware, bus drivers on the edge". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  7. Srikanth, R. (29 March 2018). "2 months after fare hike, MTC's commuter base shrinks by 30%". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  8. Srikanth, R. (20 March 2019). "MTC cuts old bus routes to start new ones to suburbs". The Hindu (Print edition). Chennai: The Hindu. p. 3. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  9. Srikanth, R. (10 January 2020). "After more than a year, Chennai gets AC buses again". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  10. Jagannath, G. (13 May 2025). "Electric buses roll up at MTC's Perumbakkam depot". www.dtnext.in. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  11. Philip, Christin Mathew (20 March 2019). "Buses disemboweled, Left to Rust". The Times of India (e-paper). Chennai: The Times Group. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  12. "Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd". 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  13. "Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd". mtcbus.tn.gov.in. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  14. "MTC Home Fleet Scheduled Services". MTC.
  15. "MTC buses to get LCD monitors". The Hindu. Chennai. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  16. Hemalatha, Karthikeyan (6 November 2012). "MTC plans to barter ad space for cleaning buses". The Times of India. Chennai. Retrieved 22 February 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. "Real-time info from e-machines helps improve Chennai bus services, revenues | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India. 4 February 2015.
  18. Karthikeyan Hemalatha (23 February 2013). "Chennai buses burst at seams". The Times of India, Chennai. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  19. Karthikeyan Hemalatha (16 October 2013). "HARD RIDE FOR AGED IN CITY". The Times of India, Chennai. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  20. Sreevatsan, Ajai (16 August 2011). "MRTS lessons worth learning". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  21. Liffy Thomas and T.Madhavan (5 October 2013). "Train stations, a road too far". The Hindu, Chennai. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  22. G Ananthakrishnan (23 September 2013). "Not all together here". The Hindu, Chennai. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  23. Sunitha Sekar (3 June 2013). "For passengers, it's a long walk from airport to bus stop". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  24. Karthikeyan Hemalatha (30 November 2013). "No stopping MTC killing spree". The Times of India, Chennai. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  25. 25.0 25.1 Karthikeyan Hemalatha (2 July 2012). "Despite fewer buses, MTC's death rate overtakes other fleets". The Times of India, Chennai.
  26. "Driver of bus that fell off Anna flyover dismissed by MTC". The Times of India. Chennai. 25 October 2012. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  27. 27.0 27.1 Jebakumar, R. Prince (29 July 2013). "MTC buses kill over a 100 every year". The New Indian Express. Chennai: Express Publications.
  28. N Vinoth Kumar (1 August 2013). "Stressed into breaking the rules, say MTC drivers". The New Indian Express, Chennai. Archived from the original on 3 August 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  29. Karthikeyan Hemalatha (12 December 2012). "Crowded buses kill as MTC uses few in fleet". The Times of India, Chennai. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  30. Ram Sundaram (9 December 2021). "Govt Cracks Whip On Footboard Travelling | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  31. Natarajan, Aruna (7 June 2019). "Does Chennai have enough buses for its commuters?". Citizen Matters, Chennai. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  32. Jagannath, G. "A bus load of problems plagues MTC". DT next. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  33. Srikanth, R. (16 July 2019). "MTC's financial woes balloon as patronage plunges to a new low". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  34. Srikanth, R. (16 July 2022). "Hitting the brakes on retirement benefits". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  35. MTC drivers: a law unto themselves? (30 July 2013). "MTC drivers: a law unto themselves?". The New Indian Express, Chennai. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  36. Christin Mathew Philip (18 October 2013). "Drivers rude, MTC officials admit after 2,000 complaints". The Times of India, Chennai. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  37. Rajagopalan Venkataraman (31 July 2013). "Bus-stop, an oxymoron for MTC drivers?". The New Indian Express, Chennai. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  38. M Ramya & Karthikeyan Hemalatha (12 December 2012). "The Hanging danger". The Times of India, Chennai. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  39. Adarsh Jain (22 December 2013). "Broadway MTC terminus now a stinking problem". The Times of India, Chennai. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.

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