Despite a significant increase in the budget allocation for the state’s transport department, buses operating across Tamil Nadu continue to face basic functional issues that prevent them from running throughout the day. Reports have surfaced about faulty buses frequently breaking down, especially in rural areas, where these problems have become a daily occurrence. At the KTC Nagar depot, several TNSTC buses are forced to keep their engines running all day because even a brief stop causes the battery to drain, making the vehicle immobile. Drivers are now burdened with the task of keeping the buses running at full power throughout the day until they return to the depot in the evening, marking a new level of hardship.
The morning routine is even more demanding—an army of workers is needed to jump-start the buses daily. A long cable is used to connect the drained battery of one bus to the charged battery of another nearby vehicle, according to allegations from TNSTC bus drivers and conductors.
“Some buses at our depot rely on the batteries of other buses to start them each morning. We use a long cable to link the dead battery to one that’s charged. Once connected, we can get the bus started, but we’re instructed not to stop until we return to the depot in the evening,” said one driver.
On 17 February 2025 morning, one such bus broke down on the busy road between Palayamkottai and Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital. After struggling for about 15 minutes to clear the traffic, the crew and passengers were forced to get off and push the bus to the roadside.
Some contract-based TNSTC workers shared that breakdowns are frequent for city buses. “Most of these incidents happen on busy roads, but only a few are noticed by the public. For instance, another bus recently broke down at the crowded Tirunelveli Junction Bus Stand. The crew, passengers, and traffic police had to push it off the road. Engine trouble, primarily caused by battery problems, is the main reason,” they explained.
TIRUNELVELI: Several TNSTC buses at KTC Nagar depot have to keep their engines running throughout the day, as a single stop is enough to exhaust the battery and the vehicle won’t move one inch further. Drivers are instructed to go on full steam until the bus is parked at the… pic.twitter.com/UFgRCkriaF
— Thinakaran Rajamani (@thinak_) February 18, 2025
However, a TNSTC official stated that the depot has been supplied with adequate batteries and that there are no ongoing issues. R. Radhakrishnan, general secretary of the TNSTC Workers’ Federation, acknowledged hearing reports of some depots facing a shortage of quality batteries. “This problem doesn’t usually occur with experienced drivers. But the new, contract-based drivers, who lack experience, often cause buses to break down on the road. Ultimately, the root cause is battery issues,” he said.
(With Inputs From TNIE)
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