PM likely to inaugurate Chennai Metro stretch

Tentative dates are February 10 or 19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate Chennai Metro’s AG-DMS-to-Washermanpet stretch either on February 10 or 19.

Highly placed sources told The Hindu that while Mr. Modi is scheduled to visit Tirupur on February 10, he may visit Kanniyakumari or Chennai on February 19.

“He may launch the service through video-conferencing on February 10, or if he does come to Chennai on February 19, he will do it then. This plan will be finalised in a few days,” a source said.

Apart from the Prime Minister, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami will participate in the inauguration at Central Metro station.

Preparations on hold

“We began setting up the dais for the ceremony last week but since there were some doubts about the inauguration date, it has been stopped for now. It will resume as soon as we get a confirmation,” another source said.

The 10-km stretch from AG-DMS to Washermanpet will be entirely underground, with stations at LIC, Thousand Lights, Government Estate, Chennai Central, Mannady and High Court in between. When this stretch opens, the frequency of trains is likely to increase.