Tamil Nadu CM Jaya to launch Chennai Metro Rail soon

CHENNAI: After missing deadlines, the Chennai Metro Rail that promises quick and convenient mode of public transport and which will also help in easing traffic congestion in the city is likely to be launched soon.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa will launch the project between Koyambedu and Alandur metro stations soon, a Metro Rail official told. Being built at a cost of over Rs 14,000 crore, phase-1 of the Chennai Metro Rail would cover a 45-km stretch in the city.

Designed as half underground and the rest elevated, one corridor is between Washermanpet and Airport and the other, from Chennai Central to St. Thomas Mount. The portions from Washermanpet to Saidapet on Anna Salai in corridor I and the portions from Chennai central to Thirumangalam in corridor II will be underground and the remaining portions will be elevated.

Last year, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu had said the Centre had approved an extension of a nine-km stretch upto Thiruvottiyur from Washermenpet under phase-I of the project in North Chennai.

Launch of Chennai Metro Rail between Koyambedu and Alandur was scheduled to be operational by October last year. However, it did not happen. Venkaiah Naidu had said last year that the project between the Koyambedu-Alandur stretch will be launched by March 2015. After missing such deadlines, the project is now all set to see the inauguration soon albeit in a stretch of a corridor in phase-1.