Low-floor buses with several modern features to hit the road in Tiruchi soon

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) Kumbakonam will soon press into service 10 ultra low entry (ULE) buses on select routes in Tiruchi.

According to sources, the Tiruchi region has been alloted 25 of these buses. Of them, 10 will be inducted into the fleet of buses. The rest would be deployed in the next few months, officials said.

These buses will run on 15 select routes, with a minimum fare of ₹11. The maximum fare will be ₹40.

A maximum of four buses will be operated from the Kalaignar Karunanidhi Integrated Bus Terminus at Panjapur to Samayapuram via No. 1 Tollgate with the fare being ₹37 one way.

Two buses each will be operated on Panjapur-Srirangam (via Thillai Nagar, fare ₹31); IBT Panjapur-Chathiram Bus Stand (via Thillai Nagar- ₹25); IBT Panjapur-Thuvakudi (₹33); Chathiram Bus Stand-Bharathidasan University (₹31); Chathiram Bus Stand-Thuvakudi (₹27); Chathiram Bus Stand-Pettavaithalai (₹31) and Central Bus Stand-Viralimalai (₹35) routes.

One bus each will be operated on IBT Panjapur-Chathiram Bus Stand via Woraiyur (₹27); IBT Panjapur-Chathiram Bus Stand via Palakkarai (₹23); Chathiram Bus Stand-K.K. Nagar via Palakkarai (₹23); Airport-Srirangam via Central Bus Stand/Thillai Nagar (₹34); Chathiram Bus Stand-Ponmalaipatti (₹23); Chathiram Bus Stand-Manachanallur (₹25); and Chathiram Bus Stand-Lalgudi (₹31) routes.

The low-floor buses with a floor height of 400 mm will enable persons with disabilities, senior citizens, women and children to board and alight from the buses easily. The footboard can be lowered by 60 mm through a ‘kneeling system,’ which can significantly improve accessibility for passengers with mobility impairments. It is fitted with a ramp to help persons with disabilities on wheel-chairs to board or alight the buses.

The buses will come with a host of safety features and it can move only if the automated doors are closed. The buses are fitted with rear view cameras, automatic gearboxes, blind spot mirrors, and a sensor-based fire detection suppression system.

An LED display board with audio-visual system will indicate the next halt for passengers in advance. The buses come with wider cushioned seats, bigger windows for better ventilation and the increased length of the buses to make for more space inside.

While such ultra low entry buses were already plying in Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore, they are now being introduced in Tiruchi, said a TNSTC press release.