CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu’s Transport Minister, Vijay Tamilan Parthiban, announced that all newly purchased government buses in the state will be equipped with air-conditioning.He said that the decision aligns with chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s vision to make public travel more comfortable for commuters.Parthiban reiterated that the state government will henceforth procure only AC buses for its public transport fleet.He stated that this move aims to improve the passenger experience and encourage greater use of mass transit across urban and rural regions. “In the future, all new buses will have ACs,” he said, adding that all new bus procurements will follow this policy.He explained that the decision follows recent public transport expansions and the CM’s push to modernize the bus network.The announcement builds on last week’s high-profile launch of 300 new state buses flagged off by CM Vijay.This initiative includes both diesel and BS-VI compliant CNG vehicles, which are set to be deployed across the state’s eight transport corporations. During the event, the Chief Minister rode one of the newly introduced buses and interacted with commuters and transport staff.“Our Chief Minister wants the people of Tamil Nadu to travel comfortably in air-conditioned buses,” Parthiban said, noting that the decision addresses the state’s hot and humid climate.Although further details regarding the rollout timeline and funding have yet to be fully disclosed, the government has expressed confidence that the initiative will strengthen connectivity, shorten waiting times at key transit hubs, and enhance the overall travel experience for daily commuters.
