CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): The Tamil Nadu government together with Southern Railways, will conduct a feasibility study to introduce air-conditioned coaches and coaches with facilities which are preferred by commuters, in Chennai suburban trains, mainly those trains which run from the Beach to Chengalpattu.
Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, announced this in the assembly and said that the government would continue to take steps for securing the Union government’s approval for the proposal of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to take over the operation and maintenance of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Southern Railway.
A feasibility study would be conducted for the extension of Corridor 3, to be formed under Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail Project, from Siruseri to Kelambakkam and from Kelambakkam to the Kilambakkam bus terminus through Mambakkam and Vandalur which would link the National Highways 45 with the Old Mamallapuram Road. Similar exercises will be carried out to cover the Poonnamallee bypass-Sriperumpudur stretch (as part of the extension of Corridor 4) and Thirumangalam-Avadi (Corridor 5).
The detailed project report (DPR) for the first phase of the Coimbatore MRTS would be presented to the government soon. The feasibility report for the Madurai MRTS was expected by the end of this month. The preliminary work was underway for the 11th Agriculture Census with 2020-21 as the reference period, and phase I of the census would be taken up in July, the Minister added.
