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Chennai’s Biggest Win Is Something It’s Rarely Known For | Inside MTC’s Bus Revolution


On November 9, 2025, Chennai won a national award — not for its food, culture, or heritage, but for something that quietly keeps the city moving every day: its bus network. 


At the Urban Mobility India Conference, Chennai’s Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) was named Best Public Transport System. And this win wasn’t accidental.


In this episode of The Climate Brief, we zoom in on MTC — one of India’s oldest and largest government-run bus services — to understand what makes it stand out in a country struggling with traffic, pollution, and unreliable public transport.


With 3,400+ buses, 660 routes, and nearly 35 lakh daily passengers, MTC moves more people than most Indian cities realise. But the award came from how the system is being reimagined.


We break down:

• Chennai’s rapid electric bus transition

• The all-women “Pink Crew” initiative

• The Bus First campaign to prioritise buses on roads

• The Chennai One app — India’s first integrated transport app

• Free and subsidised travel for women and students


From electric buses to last-mile metro connectivity, Chennai is proving that buses can be modern, reliable, inclusive, and climate-friendly.


Public transport doesn’t have to be broken.



Chennai’s MTC shows what’s possible when cities take buses seriously.


Watch till the end — and if this story made you rethink your commute, share it.


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