6 months ago
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After a agelong delay, Chennai Metro Rail has floated bids to acquisition 28 six-coach trains for the 54 km signifier I and signifier I hold web to cater to increasing rider traffic. The six manager bid volition beryllium capable to transportation astir 1,500 passengers per trip, portion the existing trains person a capableness to transport astir 1,000 passengers.
According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), these trains to beryllium bought astatine an estimated outgo of ₹2,036 crore volition beryllium equipped with dynamic way representation with LED-backlit LCD surface with mobile charging points. “It would instrumentality a minimum of 4-5 months to grant the declaration for this project. The shaper volition beryllium fixed 2 years to commencement delivering the trains,” an authoritative said. These further trains volition get lone by 2028, officials said.
Chennai Metro Rail strategy sees astir 3 lakh to 3.4 lakh passengers regular and determination exists a rising request for improving frequencies owed to the crowding of trains successful the highest hours.
In some corridors of the signifier I web and the signifier I hold network, Chennai Metro Rail maintains a frequence of six minutes successful the highest hours.
As trains tally packed during the bureau hours, commuters person been demanding that frequence beryllium improved to 2.5 minutes oregon 3 minutes. However, this would beryllium imaginable lone if other coaches are available.
In August 2023, the Tamil Nadu authorities gave its motion to acquisition 28 further trains. But this task has been marred by delays owed to the clip taken to finalise the root of backing for buying the trains.
Initially, CMRL took efforts to question backing from a multilateral slope and got the support from the Centre successful August 2024. But CMRL was incapable to motion an statement with the slope owed to deficiency of statement connected immoderate aspects. Subsequently, the Tamil Nadu authorities decided to question home backing for this project.
Sources said it took clip to interval this tender since they were waiting for a Government Order to beryllium issued to question home funding. Now that the G.O. has been released, the CMRL has decided to telephone for bids, they add.
