CHENNAI: The State Government is all set to revive the metro rail project to ease traffic congestion and improve the public transport system.

State Transport Minister K. N. Nehru told The Hindu on Tuesday that the project would be implemented along the lines of the Delhi metro.

"The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will undertake the project and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority will be the implementing agency," the Minister said.

Rs. 5,800 crore

The project consists of three corridors, two of which will be completed in the first phase at an estimated cost of Rs. 5,800 crore, according to DMRC officials. The first phase itself will carry 10.5 lakh passenger trips a day.

The previous AIADMK Government proposed but later had shelved the project after the DMRC prepared a feasibility report.

In fact, the Corporation had even completed a detailed project report.

According to Mr. Nehru, more government buses would not take care of the increasing commuter demands. "Putting more buses may not be the solution," he said.

More low floor buses

The city, however, would soon get 10 more low floor buses that would be disabled friendly, said senior officials.

"The buses will be modelled after Mumbai's BEST Corporation vehicles. They will be accessible to even those who use wheelchairs," an official explained.

Transport Secretary Debendranath Sarangi said the Government was in the process of identifying zones, which have clusters of institutions for the disabled children so that they could fix the routes of these buses.

As for the 300 new replacements to MTC's ageing fleet, . Minister said discussions were on to check the feasibility of introducing Volvo and other high capacity buses.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail