16 new BS6 buses flagged off in the Nilgiris

Chief whip of the Tamil Nadu government and Coonoor MLA, K. Ramachandran, flagged off 16 new Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) buses in Udhagamandalam in the Nilgiris on Sunday (February 15, 2026).

Addressing the media at the Ooty bus stand, Mr. Ramachandran said that the buses were purchased at a cost of ₹40.61 lakh each. In the Ooty Zone of the TNSTC, a total of 337 buses were currently plying. In addition to the 16 pollution-controlled BS6 buses, 22 more buses are to be introduced in Ooty Zone.

Mr. Ramachandran said that the Vidiyal Payanam scheme introduced by the State government was implemented in 110 buses in the Nilgiris since 2022. As many as 4.05 crore trips till date have been recorded in the district under the scheme benefiting female passengers to the tune of ₹89.26 crore.

He added that with the addition of more BS6 buses to the fleet in the Nilgiris, emissions from older buses will greatly reduce in the coming months. Vehicle tracking devices and panic buttons have also been installed in the buses for passengers to use. The alerts, when the buttons are pushed, will be sent to the police control room for swift action, he said.

The newly introduced buses will ply from Udhagamandalam, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Mettupalayam to Tiruchi, Kozhikode, Mysuru, Salem, Palani, Madurai and Theni.

District Collector, Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru was also present at the inauguration.