Chennai: Government announces first underground stretch of Metro in budget
State Finance Minister O Panneerselvam wants to make Metro Rail network in Chennai a world-class public transport system.
Tamil Nadu government announced on Thursday that the passenger services in the first underground stretch of Chennai Metro will commence by the end of this year.
State Finance Minister O Panneerselvam, in his budget speech, said services in the elevated stretches from Little Mount to Airport and between Alandur and St Thomas Mount would commence shortly. "The passenger services in the first underground stretch will also commence by the end of this year," he said, adding that substantial progress has been achieved in the implementation of Phase-I of the project.
Metro Rail services in Chennai was inaugurated last year between Koyambedu and Alandur, a 10.15 km elevated stretch. "This government will expedite the proposal for Phase-II of the metro Rail covering two more corridors for a stretch of 104.50 km. I hope that these efforts will strengthen the Metro Rail network in Chennai, thereby providing a world-class public transport system."