New low-floor MTC buses break down frequently

Chennai: New low-floor buses introduced by Metropolitan Transport Corporation have already started facing frequent breakdowns due to poor maintenance.

On Monday, a packed MTC low-floor bus on route 70 (Avadi-Tambaram) abruptly stopped at Guindy. The driver was confused by a blinking red warning light, signalling a need for "force regeneration" to clear clogged exhaust filters. Instead of stopping, he continued, causing the bus to suddenly halt indicating inadequate training for the bus crew.

These newer buses are equipped with BS-VI engines, which are more environmentally friendly and, uses exhaust fluids such as AdBlue. "Inadequate quantities of AdBlue were used, which caused the bus to stop unexpectedly," said Santhapriyan Kamaraj from TNSTC Enthusiasts, a public transportation advocacy group.

Dismissing these claims, MTC managing director Alby John said the AdBlue level was indeed full, but they suspect a design issue related to the regeneration process. He said their technical team, with specialists from Ashok Leyland (the company that supplied the buses) conducted a joint inspection to find a solution to the problem.

A similar incident two weeks ago on the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road near Singaperumal Koil saw an MTC bus lose a wheel amid heavy Diwali traffic. Passengers were stranded on the highway, waiting for another bus to reach Tambaram.

MTC mechanics said old tyres are sometimes reused on other buses, and if not fit tightly, bolts may snap, leading to incidents like this. They also said that spare parts often don't arrive on time, despite repeated requests, hindering maintenance efforts.

Alby John said sufficient funds are now allocated to ensure components are readily available at depots and work floors. "We've replaced more than 500 old buses with new ones in the past six months," he said.