Chennai Metro Rail will soon receive the much-awaited approval for the phase-I extension from Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar.
Though this proposal was sent to the Centre years ago, there had been no communication from them, until recently.
“A few weeks ago, the Centre wrote to us, seeking some additional information, which we subsequently provided. We should get the approval very soon,” said an official of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL). Sometime back, the proposal was also sent to the Planning Commission, sources said.
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In October 2010, the State government had given the nod for this proposal after soil tests were completed. This 9-km stretch, estimated to cost around Rs. 3,001 crore, will be partly underground from Washermanpet to Korukkupet and run as an elevated corridor beyond that, till Wimco Nagar.
This extension was proposed on the basis that phase-I had sidelined north Chennai.
Lakhs of people struggling to commute by bus between Washermanpet and Wimco Nagar will benefit if this stretch becomes a reality, said T. Ravikumar of All India Train and Bus Passenger Welfare Association.
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It will particularly help labourers travelling from places like Arakkonam and Tiruvallur. If they reach Chennai Central, they can switch to Metro Rail and reach Tondiarpet and Manali, he added.
“Between 8 and 10.30 a.m., buses are overcrowded and get caught in traffic,” Mr. Ravikumar said. The service will be useful then, he said.