The entire process of approval of a high investment project came at “superfast train speed” in just one day, sources told TOI. The project was cleared within 24 hours, a rare occurrence considering the size and the number of ministries involved.
The project will have 128 stations and is expected to be completed by 2027. When fully operational, Chennai will have a total metro network of 173 km.
PM Modi in a post on X said, “I congratulate the people of Chennai and Tamil Nadu on the cabinet’s approval of the Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase-II. This will help in easing traffic, improving sustainability and economic growth.”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin thanked the PM for accepting his request made during their meeting last week. “The long pending demand of the people of Tamil Nadu having been addressed now, we are confident of completing the project at the earliest,” he said on X.
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai aso thanked the PM for the cabinet nod for the project, mentioning that “PM has always had a special interest in ensuring TN receives its rightful share, which was denied during the 10 years of UPA govt, despite DMK holding key portfolios”.
The infrastructure project will be funded by both the Central and the Tamil Nadu governments. Loans from multilateral funding agencies will also be sanctioned.
The second phase will have three corridors. Madhavaram to SIPCOT, Light House to Poonamallee Bypass, and Madhavaram to Sholinganallur. These corridors will connect north to south and east to west of Chennai, passing through major areas.
While 64 per cent of the corridors will be elevated, the 36 per cent will be underground. The design speed of the network will be 80 kmph, and the scheduled speed will be 32 kmph.
Union Ministry announced the decision and said once the approved phase becomes operational, the metro network will create an additional capacity for 13 lakh passengers per day. The minister added that this phase will integrate with other modes like suburban rail, and inter and intra-city bus terminus at 21 locations. It will also integrate with the Phase-I network at seven locations.