After the successful completion of the first phase of the Chennai Metro, the Tamil Nadu Government has now given its nod to the second phase of the project by allocating Rs 2,681 crore for 2019-20. This will be a 118 km long metro route that will connect the suburbs to the city center.
The announcement has been in the recently declared budget of the state FY 2019-20. In his Budget speech, deputy chief minister and finance minister O Panneerselvam said, “The state government has also given an administrative sanction for a total cost of Rs 40,941 crore. A sum of Rs 2,681 crore has been allocated for the Chennai Metro Rail Project as share capitals and debt,”
He further said out of Rs 40,941 crore, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has sanctioned Rs 20,196 to kick-start the work of the main corridor which is from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur and Madhavaram to CMBT. The length of this corridor will be 52.01km.
Sources from the metro rail authority said that they have already started work on soil-testing and detailed design of the main corridor. Tender distribution and construction work are likely to begin by mid-year and end of the year respectively.
“Funding for remaining other stretches is in progress. After the completion of phase 2, the metro will cover a total stretch of 172.91km in the city.” Sources added.
Panneerselvam also told that currently, Chennai Metro Rail Corporation is in talks with four different international fund management companies to arrange fund for rest of the portion i.e. Sholinganallur – Siruseri SIPCOT, CMBT – Sholinganallur, and Lighthouse – Poonamallee.