Cabinet nod puts Metro project on fast track

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Central Clearance Will Now Bring In Money From Japan For The Rs 14,600-Cr Project
V Ayyappan TNN

Chennai: Work on the much-talked about metro rail project in Chennai could start very soon with the Union Cabinet clearing the Rs 14,600-crore project on Wednesday. Tenders for designing and constructing a viaduct between Arumbakkam and Vadapalani via Koyambedu — which will be part of the second corridor of the metro rail project — are expected to be finalised by this monthend. Four companies are in the fray to build the viaduct. Sources said pre-construction formalities were being prepared fast to ensure that the foundation stone for the project can be laid by March -- well before the Lok Sabha elections are called. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) Chairman Syed Munir Hoda said, “This is the final clearance which was crucial to access the funds the project will receive from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Cabinet clearance means that money will start flowing from Japan. Governments of India and Japan had signed an agreement to this effect on November 21.” CMRL is in the process of selecting a general consultant from among five international firms, including a French company. The consultant will study and finalise the design and decide exact location of stations and buildings, architecture and route alignment of viaducts and tunnels. “JICA, which will route the money through the Union government, will release it when we submit the bills,” a CMRL official said. Meanwhile, Metro Rail is trying to ensure that works begin immediately. “The approval allows us to finalise several aspects of construction,” the official said. Seven corridors were studied in 2003 based on detailed traffic surveys. “But we decided to take up two corridors —Washermanpet to Airport (23.085 km) and Chennai Central to St Thomas Mount (21.96 km) — during the first phase of construction,” the CMRL official said. Some of the other corridors studied were: Ambattur Industrial Estate to Thiruvanmiyur via T Nagar; Porur to Kamarajar Salai; Ring Road; Radhakrishnan Salai to Kilpauk Medical College and along NH 5. “We have not dropped these corridors. They will be taken up after completing the two corridors selected under phase one because simultaneous construction will be difficult,” the official said. Meanwhile, residents and local body representatives from areas left out have started calling up Metro Rail officials to demand that their neighbourhoods too be covered by metro rail.
WHY METRO?
Metro Rail requires only 20% of the energy used by a road-based system, causes no air pollution and creates less noise. It will occupy no road space where underground and only 2 metres where elevated. A six-coach metro train will remove 16 buses or 300 cars or 600 twowheelers from the roads at peak hours.