Railway Board likely to give approval for CMRL takeover of MRTS in four to six weeks

The Railway Board is expected to o.k. the Chennai Metro Rail Limited’s (CMRL) takeover of the MRTS web successful astir 4-6 weeks.

The project, which has been connected the cards for respective years, got a boost successful July past twelvemonth erstwhile the Railway Board gave the motion for the transportation and merger of MRTS with CMRL.

Sources said a associated connection successful this respect was sent to the committee precocious and the support is apt to travel by the extremity of July. “We don’t foresee immoderate hold aft this,” a root said.

If this comes through, the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) betwixt the Southern Railway and the State authorities volition follow, which volition pave the mode for the existent takeover and the gradual alteration of infrastructure and systems successful the months to follow.

In April this year, Southern Railway had forwarded the draught MoU to the Railway Board. But subsequently, a associated connection of the MoU with the concurrence of the State authorities was asked and that excessively was sent to the committee recently.

Since the estimated outgo of the task presently stands astatine astir ₹4,500 crore, the State authorities is mulling assorted options to question backing earlier the MoU is signed.

Six-month delay

Though the deadline was December past year, the signing of this statement has faced delays arsenic Tamil Nadu authorities had to hold for the consent from Railways regarding the document.

Commuters who often question successful the MRTS strategy person been anticipating the takeover process for years.

T. Sadagopan, a commuter and an activistic said, “ A commuter who takes the bid each time yearns for the clip erstwhile the attraction and services volition get amended successful MRTS system. We anticipation determination is argumentation continuity and the State authorities secures the last support soon.”