Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami flag will flag off an electric bus manufactured by Ashok Leyland as a first step of the southern state to operate a fleet of electric buses. Slated for Monday, the event will also mark the first time an electric bus will be used for public transport in Tamil Nadu.

“We have selected a route to run the bus on a trial basis. Personnel from Ashok Leyland will drive the bus but the vehicle will carry an MTC symbol and have a conductor from the state department,” a top state government official told ET, adding that the state has created charging infrastructure for the “pilot” at Parry’s corner but there are plans to install charging points at all depots going forward.

Tamil Nadu plans to expand the electric bus project with 525 units under the second phase II of the centre’s FAME scheme, for which the next step would be unveiling of Expression of Interest (EoI) documents, the official said. Ashok Leyland, which is taking measure to temper the effect of the automobile sales slowdown, is exploring opportunities in supplying electric buses to state transport corporations.