In a major policy initiative to modernise public transport, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has ordered that only air-conditioned (AC) buses will be used in the future for public transport and that public transport should be made more comfortable, modern and convenient for all the commuters in the state.
The announcement was delivered by Transport Minister Vijay Tamilan Parthiban while speaking to reporters ahead of a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) event in Salem on Sunday.
The Chief Minister wants everyone to have access to comfortable and quality public transport, no matter where they live, said the minister.
"From now on, the Chief Minister has decided that the government will procure only AC buses. He wants people to travel extensively and comfortably in air-conditioned buses," Parthiban said.
Focus on Better Connectivity
The minister said Vijay has also directed officials to make sure that every remote part of Tamil Nadu is connected through an efficient bus network.
As reported by the Chief Minister, he feels that public transport should be designed in a way that makes people use public transport more frequently and that better service and better facilities are offered to get people in the public sector as well as better seats for passengers.
Parthiban said Vijay wants every new government bus to come equipped with the facilities for people from all walks of life to travel comfortably.
Inspired by his own Bus Journey
Vijay's announcement comes just a few weeks after he travelled on a state-run government bus, and that drew huge attention for the first time.
After that trip, the Chief Minister said he felt that future additions to the state's transport fleet should focus on passenger comfort and air-conditioning should be a standard feature.
The proposal is in marked contrast to conventional procurement policy in which we have bought both regular and air-conditioned buses depending on their requirements.
300 New Buses Flagged Off
The policy comes after the launch of a 300-bus fleet by the Tamil Nadu government.
Last week, Chief Minister Vijay flagged off the new buses, which were procured at a total cost of ₹127.21 crore to improve public transport services across the state.
The fleet includes:
164 diesel buses
136 BS-VI compliant CNG buses
The buses have been deployed from most major transport hubs, including Koyambedu and Kilambakkam in order to improve the connectivity of the bus and to shorten the waiting time for the passengers.
At the flagging-off ceremony, Vijay was also seen interacting with a government bus conductor that got a lot of attention on social media.
The event was attended by senior ministers, officials from the transport department and other government officials.
Towards a Modern Public Transport System
The decision to procure only air-conditioned buses is in line with Tamil Nadu government’s overall vision of modernising the state’s public transport infrastructure.
And by expanding the fleet with new, more comfortable vehicles and connecting rural and urban areas in such a way that the government is able to promote public transport and make it more comfortable and convenient for commuters.
If implemented as announced, Tamil Nadu will become one of the first Indian states to adopt an AC-only procurement policy for future government bus purchases and will be leading the way towards enhancing the state's public transportation system.
