Metro Rail will be operational in Chennai in three years: Reddy
Chennai (PTI): Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy on Tuesday said the Centre would soon sanction Metro Rail for Chennai City, making it the first metropolis in the country to have three urban rail networks, besides a public bus transport system.
"The Delhi metro has been extremely successful and has also helped reduce pollution. The Metro for Chennai will be sanctioned soon, he said at a CII seminar here on Tuesday on 'INFRA 2007 - MAP tomorrow's Chennai'.
He said the Centre was in 'active contact' with the Tamil Nadu government. "The foundation stone for the project will be laid in the next one year. In three years, we will be able to provide metro rail for Chennai."
The minister said a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) was also on the anvil for Chennai, for which the centre would contribute half its cost.
The state government recently approved the metro rail project for Chennai, which already has a suburban train system and the elevated Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS). The Metro is expected to cover large tracts of Chennai, which are not covered by the other two networks.
The total cost of the 40 km project, of which 14 km will be underground, would be between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000 crores. "One kilometer on an elevated stretch would cost around Rs 120 crores," he said.
He added that the Tamil Nadu government did not want a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for the Metro Rail.
"The government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of India will invest in the project to an equal degree and the rest will be raised as loan from a Japanese Bank," he said.
Regional
