MTC deploys Switch Mobility EiV 12 buses for new premium electric service in Chennai

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) Chennai has launched the MTC Gold Premium Bus service using air-conditioned electric buses on selected corridors in the city.

The service operates with Switch Mobility EiV 12 electric buses and represents a new premium category within the city’s public transport system.

MTC Chennai stated that the premium electric bus service has been introduced on a trial basis. Further route expansion may be considered following operational evaluation and passenger response.

Chennai deploys premium electric buses under MTC Gold service

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) Chennai introduced its new Gold Premium electric bus service on 11 March 2026, deploying air-conditioned electric buses designed for reserved-seat urban travel.

The new service adopts a fully reserved seating model in which every passenger travels with a confirmed seat. Standing passengers are not permitted on the buses, differentiating the service from conventional city operations typically characterised by mixed seated and standing travel.

According to MTC Chennai, the service has been introduced as part of ongoing initiatives to modernise the public transport network while integrating electric mobility into urban operations. The buses combine electric propulsion with a service model focused on seat reservation and onboard passenger amenities.

Switch Mobility EiV 12 buses with passenger technology

The electric buses deployed for the MTC Gold service are equipped with multiple onboard systems and passenger-oriented technologies. Interior seating is configured with cushioned seats designed for longer journeys, while onboard connectivity includes free Wi-Fi access and USB charging ports for mobile devices.

Safety and monitoring systems include CCTV surveillance cameras and emergency alert buttons available for passengers. Digital route and destination display boards are installed to provide real-time route information. The vehicles also incorporate accessibility features designed to support travel for differently-abled passengers, MTC states.

Ticketing for the service is handled entirely through a digital booking platform. Passengers must reserve their journey through the Chennai One mobile application, where they can select routes, choose seats through a seating layout interface and complete payments before boarding. Tickets are not sold onboard the buses.

Initial operations focus on Chennai’s IT corridor

The MTC Gold service has initially been introduced on two corridors linking major residential districts, technology hubs and intercity transport terminals in Chennai.

One route, designated P570S, connects Siruseri IT Park with the MGR Koyambedu Bus Terminus (CMBT). The service links the Siruseri technology hub along the Old Mahabalipuram Road corridor with the city’s primary intercity bus terminal at Koyambedu.

A second corridor, route P91, operates between Thiruvanmiyur and the Kilambakkam Central Bus Terminus (KCBT). This route connects residential and commercial districts along the IT corridor with the Kilambakkam terminal, which serves long-distance bus services to southern districts.

Both services operate along sections of Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), a major commuter corridor serving technology parks and expanding residential developments in the metropolitan area.