Work on Chennai Metro project to start in July

Chennai: Work on the first phase of the Chennai Metro is expected to start in July, with tenders being floated for the same in the next two months.

The project, to be completed in two phases in about 6 years and encompassing two lines in the first phase, will be built on standard gauge, unlike the Delhi Metro that is built on broad gauge, said Dr E. Sreedharan, Managing Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, a body that is acting as consultant for the Chennai Metro project.

Phase I of the project, extending over 23 km, will start from Washermanpet through Broadway, Central Station, Mount Road, Teynampet, Guindy, Kathipara Junction and end at the Chennai Airport. About 14 km of this line, from Teynampet to the Airport, will be an elevated section, the rest being underground. It is this section for which work is expected to commence first and will be completed in about 3 years, Dr Sreedharan said on the sidelines of the 49th Institute Day celebrations of IIT Madras.

The second line under phase I will extend for 22 km starting from Central Station via Poonamallee, Egmore, Shenoy Nagar, Anna Nagar, Koyambedu, Inner ring road, Kathipara junction and end at St. Thomas Mount. An interchange facility for switching lines with those of the railways will be available at Alandur, St. Thomas Mount and Central Station.

The total cost of the first phase is estimated at about Rs 11,000 crore, all of which will be financed through debt and loans, similar to what was done for the Phase I of Delhi Metro. A special purpose vehicle called Chennai Metro Rail Ltd has been floated by the State and Centre with 50 per cent investment each to carry out the project. This entity will contribute about 40 per cent to the project cost, the rest being financed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

Survey for the second phase of the Chennai Metro will start soon, Dr Sreedharan said.

Work for the Metro rail proposed in Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad has already started with one line in Mumbai being commissioned on Build-Operate-Transfer model. The Delhi Metro, though operationally profitable from day 1, would take many more years to become financially profitable, Dr Sreedharan said. “We have 30 years to repay our loan,” he said. The second phase of the Delhi Metro costing over Rs 20,000 crore has been commissioned and will cover 120 km. Work is expected to be completed in four years, in time for the Commonwealth Games 2010.