The procurement will occur under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model in the project's second phase. Under this model, a private company will own, operate, and maintain the electric buses, while MTC will manage the routes and fares. The private operator will be compensated based on a fixed cost per kilometer, with MTC collecting bus fares and receiving viability gap funding from the State government.

Last August, Chennai-based Ashok Leyland's EV arm, Switch Mobility, conducted a test run of an electric double-decker bus in the city. This test run followed Transport Minister SS Sivasankar's announcement to explore the feasibility of operating double-decker buses on tourist routes.

Chennai's history with double-decker buses dates back to the 1970s. These buses were initially taken off the roads in the 1980s but reintroduced in 1997, operating on the 18 A route from High Court to Tambaram until 2008. However, double-decker buses can only be operated on routes with sufficient vertical clearance, free from low bridges, cables, and other obstructions.

In addition to the double-decker buses, MTC will soon float bids to procure 500 e-buses for the programme's second phase. The first phase already includes a tender for 500 e-buses' procurement, supply, operation, and maintenance under the GCC model. The Rs 9.6-billion project will see the international aid agency contribute 70% of the funds, with the State government covering the remaining 30%.

This initiative follows Mumbai's introduction of the country's first double-decker AC electric buses in January 2023, replacing their diesel counterparts. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation also plans to procure double-decker electric buses, indicating a nationwide shift towards electric public transportation.