MRTS and Chennai Metro Rail to be merged
Posted on: 23/Sep/2016 3:25:10 PM
A consultancy firm will be soon entrusted with the work to prepare a detailed report on merging the MRTS with Chennai Metro Rail. According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), tenders have been called to appoint the consultant and the process may be completed in about a month.
In order to reduce the traffic congestion in Chennai, the mass rapid transit system was introduced. In the year 1971 CMDA decided to fulfil this system from Chennai Beach to St Thomas Mount in three phases. The first phase from Chennai Beach to Mylapore a distance of 9 kms was completed in the year 1997 at a cost of Rs 266 Crores. The second phase between Mylapore and Velacherry was completed in the year 2007 at a cost of Rs 877. 59 Crores.
150 trains are being operated between Madras Beach and Velacherry. The extension of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Velacherry railway station to St. Thomas Mount station in Chennai has been stalled by delay in land acquisition.
At this juncture, the Railway Board has decided to merge MRTS with Chennai Metro Rail. In this connection an official said: The consultant will draft the terms with regard to issues such as finance and operations. We had a discussion with the officials of Railways sometime ago. We hope to complete the merger at least in about 3-5 years. The plan is to eventually change everything from trains to ticket fares. The trains will become air-conditioned and hence, the ticket prices of MRTS will be on a par with Chennai Metro Rail tickets.
