CHENNAI: The State Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Rs.9,757-crore metro rail project at the policy-level and the two routes prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in its Detailed Project Report (DPR).
The first route will be from Washermanpet to Meenambakkam via Egmore and Teynampet.
The second route will be from Anna Nagar to St. Thomas Mount via Vadapalani, Ashok Nagar and Alandur. The total distance covered by both the routes is 46.5 km. About 20 km will be underground and the remaining, on the surface.
The Cabinet decided to approach the Centre for financial assistance and loans for the project. A release issued after the Cabinet meeting said that Japan’s Bank for International Cooperation would also render financial assistance.
It was also decided to implement the project through the ‘Chennai Metro Rail Limited,’ a company that would be set up with contributions from both the Central and State governments.
The government took up the mass rapid transit project to reduce traffic congestion in Chennai. It shelved the monorail scheme, proposed by the previous government, and opted for the metro rail because it could carry more passengers at a lower cost.
The DMRC was requested to prepare the DPR at a cost of Rs.3.3 crore in 2005. The DPR was submitted late in October this year.
Initially, the government considered having a major part of the 46.5-km structure underground.
It was estimated to cost Rs.13,000 crore. The cost came down significantly after the decision was taken to have the structure underground for only nearly half the distance.
The issue of carving out a new district out of Perambalur and headquartered at Ariyalur was debated at length at the Cabinet meeting.
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