The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) carried 10,727.22 lakh passengers in 2024-25, a little over 107 crore trips, according to the Tamil Nadu Transport Department’s policy note for 2025-26. Spread evenly across the year, that is roughly 29 lakh trips a day on Chennai’s government buses.
It is also fewer than the year before. Here are the official figures for MTC’s fleet, routes, depots, staff and ridership across the last two policy notes, plus what has been added since.
MTC at a glance: two policy notes compared
The state publishes a policy note for each department every year with the budget. The 2024-25 note gives figures as on 31 March 2024, and the 2025-26 note as on 28 February 2025.
| MTC indicator | 31 March 2024 | 28 February 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet held | 3,347 buses | 3,420 buses |
| Scheduled services | 3,233 | 3,233 |
| Spare buses | 114 | 187 |
| Routes | 672 | 659 |
| Depots | 32 | 32 |
| Staff | 19,415 | 18,784 |
| Ridership in the financial year | 11,445.51 lakh (2023-24) | 10,727.22 lakh (2024-25) |
The fleet grew by 73 buses over the year, but all the gain went into the spare pool; scheduled services stayed at 3,233. Ridership fell by about 718 lakh trips, or roughly 6%. The policy note does not give a reason. Dividing the 2024-25 total by 365 gives the rough daily average of 29 lakh quoted above; MTC does not publish an official daily figure in the note.
What kinds of buses MTC runs
The 2025-26 note breaks down the 3,233 scheduled services by type and adds a few other counts:
- Ordinary town buses: 1,654, the basic-fare services.
- Limited stop, express and deluxe services: 1,579.
- Spare buses: 187, kept for breakdowns and maintenance.
- Small buses: 146, of which 56 serve interior areas linked to metro stations and 22 run only as metro feeders.
The note does not list air-conditioned buses separately. Across all state transport undertakings, the average bus age was 8.22 years; MTC’s own fleet age is not given.
How MTC compares with the other state corporations
Tamil Nadu has eight state transport undertakings. Ridership for 2024-25, in lakh trips, from the 2025-26 policy note:
| Corporation | Ridership 2024-25 (lakh) |
|---|---|
| Kumbakonam | 11,347.74 |
| MTC Chennai | 10,727.22 |
| Coimbatore | 9,291.59 |
| Villupuram | 8,980.16 |
| Madurai | 7,320.18 |
| Tirunelveli | 7,032.94 |
| Salem | 6,705.65 |
| SETC (long distance) | 217.66 |
| All corporations | 61,623.14 |
MTC, which serves a single metropolitan region, carried about 17% of all state bus trips. Kumbakonam’s lead reflects its large network across the delta districts.
New buses since the policy note
Several additions have come after February 2025:
- Electric buses: 625 low-floor e-buses were awarded on a gross cost contract under the Chennai City Partnership programme, per the 2025-26 note. In August 2026, MTC added another 130, based at Alandur (80 buses, 15 routes) and Central (50 buses, 10 routes), according to electrive’s report of the state’s 25 August announcement.
- Current plans: MTC’s website notes 180 more e-buses planned to support free travel for women, 70 mini e-buses for metro connectivity, 240 diesel buses to be converted to CNG and 100 small buses to be replaced.
- Long-term target: a government-approved business plan aims to roughly double the fleet to about 7,600 buses by 2032 with 30 to 40 new depots, DT Next reported in July 2025, when it put the fleet at 3,376.
MTC within the state network
When Chief Minister Vijay flagged off 300 new government buses in June 2026, the state put its total fleet at about 21,527 buses across 317 depots, carrying around 2.05 crore commuters a day, PTI reported. About 64% of those riders used free travel concessions for women, students and persons with disabilities. That batch of 164 diesel and 136 CNG buses was deployed from the Kilambakkam and Koyambedu terminals; the report did not say how many went to MTC.
The 2025-26 policy note also records two MTC pass changes: senior citizens aged 60 and above can get a travel pass for non-AC buses, and a ₹2,000 monthly “Travel as You Please” pass, introduced on 19 March 2025, covers unlimited travel on all MTC buses including AC services.
What these numbers mean for riders
With scheduled services flat at 3,233 for two years while the metro area keeps spreading, waiting times on many routes have not improved. The ridership dip in 2024-25 may partly reflect that, though the policy note does not analyse it. The new electric buses and the 2032 fleet target are the main levers the state has announced. Route information, free and concession travel rules and road safety notices are on MTC’s website.
Quick answers
How many buses does MTC Chennai have?
3,420 as on 28 February 2025, per the Transport Department policy note, with 130 electric buses added in August 2026.
How many people travel on MTC buses?
10,727.22 lakh trips in 2024-25, roughly 29 lakh a day on average.
How many MTC routes and depots are there?
659 routes and 32 depots, as on 28 February 2025.
Is MTC ridership rising?
No. It fell about 6% between 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Transport Department Policy Note 2025-26 (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Transport Department Policy Note 2024-25 (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- MTC’s roadmap: double fleet size to 7,600 buses, more EVs, 40 new depots (DT Next, July 2025)
- India: Chennai flags off 130 electric buses (electrive, August 2026)
- CM Vijay flags off 300 new government buses (Deccan Chronicle/PTI, June 2026)
- Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd
