Metro Rail project to be developed in stages

Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday promised that the Chennai Metro Rail Project would be implemented in stages in 2015-16.

“Phase I of the project will be commissioned in phases beginning this year,” Mr. Panneerselvam said, announcing that the State had released a sum of Rs.615.78 crore to ensure timely completion of the work. So far, the State had fulfilled its obligations by releasing a sum of Rs.3,105.82 crore, both as loan and share capital, he added.

“We hope that the Government of India will also release the already-overdue amount of Rs.1,498.74 crore of loan and share capital to this project at the earliest,” he added.

The Metro Rail project, which is being built at a cost of Rs. 14,000 crore, started in 2009 with two corridors-- one running from Washermanpet to the Chennai airport and the other from Chennai Central to St. Thomas Mount.

Civic infrastructure

The Chief Minister also made a commitment to develop civic infrastructure such as roads, stormwater drains and public health centres in the Chennai Corporation limits. He said the government had allocated Rs.500 crore and Rs.750 crore for the Chennai Mega City Development Mission and the Integrated Urban Development Mission respectively for 2015-2016. A sum of Rs.420.05 crore had been allocated for the Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Fund, Mr. Panneerselvam said. The government has taken up 1,084 water supply projects at a cost of Rs.1,434.70 crore, 74 drainage projects at a cost of Rs.862.80 crore and over 3,000 km of road works at a combined cost of Rs.1,929.16 crore.

Sanction has been given to implement a massive stormwater drain project through the Tamil Nadu Sustainable Urban Development Project (TNSUDP) at a cost of Rs.1,101.43 crore. A total of 22 Urban Health Centres (UHCs) will be created in Chennai City.

Significant allocations in budget for roads, drains and public health centres