Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai)
Encyclopedia
The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (formerly known as Pallavan Transport Corporation Ltd.) is the agency that operates the public transport
bus
service in Chennai
, India
. It is owned by the Government
of Tamil Nadu
. It transports an estimated 5.53 million
passengers every day with its fleet of 3421 bus
es and covers a maximum of 50 km around Chennai.
The MTC headquarters is located on Pallavan Salai near the Central Railway Station.
- Dn.I) Ltd was established on 1 January 1972 with a fleet strength of 1029 buses. The operational jurisdiction
is the Chennai
Metropolitan area. The Pallavan Transport Corporation was split into two and a new Corporation, namely, Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation Ltd. started functioning from 19 January 1994. Pallavan Transport Corporation was renamed as Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai Division –1) Limited, Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation was re-named as Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai Division-II) Ltd., on 1 July 1997.
In order to make the Corporations viable, and for better administrative control, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai Division II) was amalgamated with Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai Division I) Ltd in 10 January 2001. The fleet strength of the Corporation
at 1 March 2009 was 3260 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.
Single-deckers
All the buses in the MTC are from either Ashok Leyland
or Tata Motors
, with the former having a vast majority. These buses were launched since 1990s and even today many of those old-fashioned buses continue to receive overwhelming response. Most of the buses are BS-III compliant while the newly ordered Ashok Leyland Viking SLFs are BS-IV Compliant.
Semi-Low floor buses
The corporation has also introduced huge number of semi low floored and deluxe buses with improved passenger amenities like improved lighting, plastic moulded seats and driver operated pneumatic, doors into its fleet from February 2007. These buses are from Ashok Leyland, with the body built by various body building shops which Ashok Leyland has partnered with - Prakash Coach (SM Kannappa Automobiles, Bangalore), Veera Vahana Udyog Ltd, Irizar-TVS, G.S.Body works etc. and account for the majority of the buses. The newer range of these semi-low floor buses feature BS-III engines and LED display while the older buses are BS-II compliant. The total number of buses in this segment is over 1800.
Vestibule Services
Apart from the regular and low-floor buses, MTC also runs articulated buses from Ashok Leyland to traverse the most-congested routes. The fares are similar to those of ordinary and express services. These buses have 2 conductors, plastic moulded seats and LED boards (Some of these buses still continue to have regular boards). However these buses do not have pneumatic doors nor feature the chassis of the semi-low floor buses.
Air-conditioned buses
MTC has launched the Volvo AC Bus services in Chennai on selected routes. It is expected that the number of AC buses running in the city is likely to increase many folds in the upcoming years. These B7RLEs have high-tech features such as ABS, Retarders, Kneeling, etc. and relatively better interiors. There about 100 of these buses running on select routes at regular intervals. All the busses are Euro V compliant. These buses are so popular that a 30 of them have been transferred to TNSTC
and make trips to Pondicherry, Vellore
, Coimbatore
, Tiruchirapalli
and Hosur
.
Advertising facilities are available on these buses, which can be availed at reasonable costs. Advertisements are mainly print visuals that can be arrayed in the interiors and the exteriors.
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
service in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is owned by the Government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. It transports an estimated 5.53 million
Million
One million or one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999,999 and preceding 1,000,001. The word is derived from the early Italian millione , from mille, "thousand", plus the augmentative suffix -one.In scientific notation, it is written as or just 106...
passengers every day with its fleet of 3421 bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es and covers a maximum of 50 km around Chennai.
The MTC headquarters is located on Pallavan Salai near the Central Railway Station.
History
Metropolitan Transport Corporation (ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
- Dn.I) Ltd was established on 1 January 1972 with a fleet strength of 1029 buses. The operational jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
is the Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
Metropolitan area. The Pallavan Transport Corporation was split into two and a new Corporation, namely, Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation Ltd. started functioning from 19 January 1994. Pallavan Transport Corporation was renamed as Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai Division –1) Limited, Dr. Ambedkar Transport Corporation was re-named as Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai Division-II) Ltd., on 1 July 1997.
In order to make the Corporations viable, and for better administrative control, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai Division II) was amalgamated with Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai Division I) Ltd in 10 January 2001. The fleet strength of the Corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
at 1 March 2009 was 3260 with 25 depots, a body building unit at Chromepet
Chromepet
Chromepet is a township in the southern part of Chennai, India. It lies on the Grand Southern Trunk Road, close to Tambaram and next to Pallavaram, Well connected by Road and Railways. It is 4 km south of the Anna International Airport, Meenambakkam. It is the home of the Madras Institute of...
, 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.
Fleet
Single-deckers
All the buses in the MTC are from either Ashok Leyland
Ashok Leyland
Ashok Leyland is a commercial vehicle manufacturing company based in Chennai, India. Founded in 1948, the company is one of India's leading manufacturers of commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, as well as emergency and military vehicles. Operating six plants, Ashok Leyland also makes...
or Tata Motors
Tata Motors
Tata Motors Limited is an Indian multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. Part of the Tata Group, it was formerly known as TELCO...
, with the former having a vast majority. These buses were launched since 1990s and even today many of those old-fashioned buses continue to receive overwhelming response. Most of the buses are BS-III compliant while the newly ordered Ashok Leyland Viking SLFs are BS-IV Compliant.
Semi-Low floor buses
The corporation has also introduced huge number of semi low floored and deluxe buses with improved passenger amenities like improved lighting, plastic moulded seats and driver operated pneumatic, doors into its fleet from February 2007. These buses are from Ashok Leyland, with the body built by various body building shops which Ashok Leyland has partnered with - Prakash Coach (SM Kannappa Automobiles, Bangalore), Veera Vahana Udyog Ltd, Irizar-TVS, G.S.Body works etc. and account for the majority of the buses. The newer range of these semi-low floor buses feature BS-III engines and LED display while the older buses are BS-II compliant. The total number of buses in this segment is over 1800.
Vestibule Services
Apart from the regular and low-floor buses, MTC also runs articulated buses from Ashok Leyland to traverse the most-congested routes. The fares are similar to those of ordinary and express services. These buses have 2 conductors, plastic moulded seats and LED boards (Some of these buses still continue to have regular boards). However these buses do not have pneumatic doors nor feature the chassis of the semi-low floor buses.
Air-conditioned buses
MTC has launched the Volvo AC Bus services in Chennai on selected routes. It is expected that the number of AC buses running in the city is likely to increase many folds in the upcoming years. These B7RLEs have high-tech features such as ABS, Retarders, Kneeling, etc. and relatively better interiors. There about 100 of these buses running on select routes at regular intervals. All the busses are Euro V compliant. These buses are so popular that a 30 of them have been transferred to TNSTC
TNSTC
The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation is the public transport bus operator of Tamil Nadu, India. It operates buses along intra and inter state bus routes, as well as city routes.There are currently 6 divisions in TNSTC:*TNSTC Coimbatore...
and make trips to Pondicherry, Vellore
Vellore
Vellore It is considered one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati...
, Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirappalli ) , also called Tiruchi or Trichy , is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli District. It is the fourth largest municipal corporation in Tamil Nadu and also the fourth largest urban agglomeration in the state...
and Hosur
Hosur
Hosur is a town and a municipality in Krishnagiri district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.The name of the town is from Kannada language which means 'New settlement/town' . It is a taluk of Krishnagiri district. It is located about 40 kilometres south-east of Bangalore and 38 kilometres from...
.
Advertising facilities are available on these buses, which can be availed at reasonable costs. Advertisements are mainly print visuals that can be arrayed in the interiors and the exteriors.
Services
MTC services are identified by the colour of the route board*:| S.No. | Board type | Service | Description | Base fare (Rs.) + per 4 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White board | Ordinary service - Replaced by M service | Stops at all bus stops | 2+0.5 |
| 2 | M | M service | Same as ordinary with higher fare | 3+1 |
| 3 | LSS | Limited stop service | Stops at alternate bus stops | 2.5+0.5 |
| 4 | Express | Express service | Stops at few bus stops | 3+0.5 |
| 5 | PP | Point to point service | Similar to express | 3+0.5 |
| 6 | Deluxe | Deluxe service (Yellow/Blue/White/Orange lines) See list of deluxe routes | Stops at EXPRESS bus stops, deluxe buses | 5+2 |
| 7 | Black board | Night service | LSS service after 10pm | 4+1 |
| 8 | Ladies | Ladies special | Ordinary services during peak hours for Ladies | 2+0.5 |
| 9 | LED board | All Volvo buses | 10 + Stage | |
- Note:Almost all new busses apart from Volvo A/C Coaches launched under the JnNurm Scheme has Digital LED boards, So specific fares cannot be alloted according to the color of the route board
See also
- List of MTC deluxe routes
- Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation-TNSTC
- State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu)-SETC