The TVK government’s decision to bring 300 newly procured buses from across the state to Chennai for an inauguration ceremony marking Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s birthday has come under scrutiny after the vehicles reportedly remained parked for three days before being formally flagged off.
According to reports, transport corporations across Tamil Nadu were verbally instructed to dispatch newly purchased buses to Chennai ahead of the scheduled inauguration on 22 June 2026. As a result, buses from 24 regions under six state transport corporations including Nagercoil, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and other districts were driven to Chennai by transport corporation staff.
The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and State Express Transport Corporation (SETC), whose headquarters are already located in Chennai, were reportedly excluded from the exercise.
However, the inauguration did not take place on 22 June 2026 as initially expected. Instead, the buses remained parked at the Koyambedu and Kilambakkam bus terminals until Chief Minister Vijay formally inaugurated them on 25 June 2026.
For three days, nearly 300 buses remained idle in Chennai while around 900 transport corporation employees – two drivers and one conductor assigned to each bus were required to stay in the city, raising questions about the planning behind the event.
Reports further claimed that many of the employees faced difficulties due to the delay, with uncertainty over accommodation, food and the eventual schedule for returning to their respective districts.
The logistical exercise has also sparked concerns over public expenditure. According to estimates cited in the reports, transporting a single bus to Chennai and returning it to its home depot costs between ₹15,000 and ₹40,000. With 300 buses involved, the expenditure on transportation alone is expected to run into several crores, excluding employee allowances and other operational costs.
The episode has also drawn criticism because it occurred at a time when India is facing fuel supply constraints. Critics have questioned the necessity of driving hundreds of buses over long distances merely for a ceremonial launch before sending them back to their respective regions for public service.
Traditionally, transport department inauguration events have involved only a representative number of buses from selected regions, with the remaining vehicles being launched locally after the formal ceremony. The decision to physically bring all 300 buses to Chennai marks a departure from that practice.
One wonders whether the buses could have been directly deployed for public service in their respective districts instead of remaining parked in Chennai for several days awaiting the inauguration.
Adding to the controversy, a report by Junior Vikatan, claimed that the Chief Minister may not have been fully informed about the logistical decisions surrounding the event. The report alleged that officials and those close to the administration shielded him from details about the buses being brought to Chennai days in advance and remaining idle until the inauguration.
300 பேருந்துகளின் தேவையில்லாத சென்னை பயணம்!
– ஜூ.வி.மிஸ்டர் கழுகுஇந்த ஜூனியர் விகடன் இதழில்… தற்போது விற்பனையில்…https://t.co/Xn67P4xzDy#JuniorVikatan #Magazine #TamilNadu #PublicTransport #VijayGovernment pic.twitter.com/MZQg0crzFs
— @JuniorVikatan (@JuniorVikatan) June 27, 2026
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
