CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): The Airport-Kilambakkam project is going to start soon because according to the sources, talks between Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) and the Highways department has ended.
The discussion between CMRL and Highway department got stretched for a long time because CMRL has planned a mass rapid transit between airport and Kilambakkam which would be an extension of the Phase-1 project in the southern part of the city whereas the Highways department wanted to build an elevated corridor till Tambaram. CMRL had submitted the detailed project report (DPR) to the State government early this year but the discussions continued even after that.
The Airport-Kilambakkam project will be a 15.3 km stretch which will be constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 4,080 crore. This stretch will run through important locations in the southern suburbs with stops planned at Pallavaram, Kothandam Nagar, Chromepet, Mahalakshmi Colony, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Tambaram, Irumbuliyur, Peerkankaranai, Perungalathur, Vandalur, Arignar Anna Zoo and Kilambakkam Bus Terminus.
According to the sources, initially, the plan was to start the work by the middle of next year unless the approvals from the State government and the Centre are given and initiatives taken for funding at the earliest, this project could be delayed.