5 months ago
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The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Chennai Metro Rail’s takeover of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is apt to beryllium signed successful January 2026, sources said.
The Tamil Nadu authorities and Railways were initially expected to motion the MoU successful December. However, it whitethorn instrumentality much clip to get astatine a statement aft discussions with Railways and to formalise this process, according to a source.
If the State authorities plans to wholly elevate MRTS to the Chennai Metro Rail’s standards, it whitethorn necessitate astir ₹4,200 crore for this project. “The full takeover outgo has inactive not been finalised. It depends connected factors specified arsenic whether each the systems successful the MRTS web request to beryllium changed. Only based connected this decision, volition the last outgo beryllium arrived at,” helium added.
According to officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), the State authorities has been holding discussions with World Bank for a indebtedness to money this project.
“We are drafting a tender for procuring 25 three-coach air-conditioned trains initially. After the MoU is signed, the bids volition beryllium floated,” an authoritative said.
The CMRL has prepared a preliminary task study to upgrade the stations on the Chennai Beach-Velachery corridor. The study broadly identifies areas that request contiguous attraction and spaces that necessitate revamp.
“Post the signing of the MoU, we volition enactment successful a task absorption advisor who volition hole a elaborate task report, chalking retired the enactment progressive successful the presumption betterment on this corridor. Based connected this, we volition interval bids for the revamp,” different authoritative said.
The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), which is helming this takeover project, has recommended successful the Comprehensive Mobility Plan an exclusive assemblage to heighten obstruction infrastructure.
The body, which could beryllium named Tamil Nadu Rail Development Corporation (TNRail), could grip projects specified arsenic the MRTS takeover by the CMRL, the CUMTA added.
