The Tamil Nadu transport department has decided to convert 1,000 diesel buses to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) after a successful trial run of 22 CNG buses resulted in significant cost savings and increased mileage across eight transport corporations. The buses selected for conversion will be aged between six to seven years or with a total running distance of less than eight lakh kilometers. The average cost for converting a diesel bus to CNG has been set at Rs 7 lakh, with a recovery of conversion expenses in 9 to 13 months. The initiative aligns with the state government's initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission. Additionally, plans to explore the use of Compressed Biogas (CBG) and potentially hydrogen buses as clean energy solutions are in place. Operational CNG buses have shown a 15% increase in mileage compared to diesel buses, leading to significant cost savings for transport corporations. Funding for the initiative comes from various agencies, including the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. The government aims to increase the number of CNG outlets to 3,250 by 2026 and convert major diesel depots into CNG stations to support the transition to cleaner energy in public transportation.