Chennai: The State Budget for 2019-2020 fiscal allotted Rs. 2,681 crore for the Chennai metro rail project as share capital and debt.
Presenting the budget in the Assembly on Friday, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said the Phase-I of Chennai metro rail project covering two corridors stretching 45.01 km will be fully commissioned during February 2019. The Phase-I extension covering a length of 9 km up to Tiruvottriyur / Wimco Nagar is expected to be commissioned by June 2020. During 2018-2019, an amount of Rs.1,950 crore was allocated for the project. As announced already, feasibility study is also being taken up for the extension of metro rail line from Meenambakkam Airport to Kilambakkam metro bus terminus, he said.
Of the approved 118.90 km of three metro rail corridors, JICA has approved funding of Rs.20,196 crore for implementing the priority stretches totalling 52.01 km from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur and Madhavaram to Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) and the state government has also accorded administrative sanction for a total cost of Rs.40,941 crore to commence the work shortly. The funding arrangements for other stretches are also in progress. By implementing the Phase-II of Chennai metro rail project, the metro rail network in the Chennai. Metropolitan Area would increase to 172.91 km, which would increase its share of public transport considerably.
