Finance Minister claims progress in Metro Rail project.

The State government has observed that Chennai Metro Rail has made substantial progress in the phase I project that covers 45 km of the city.

Minister for Finance O. Panneerselvam, in the budget speech, said, “In addition to the 10.15 km elevated stretch from Koyambedu to Alandur, which has already been inaugurated, passenger services in the remaining elevated stretches from Little Mount to airport and from Alandur to St. Thomas Mount will commence shortly.”

He noted the phase I extension of Chennai Metro Rail from Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar at an estimate of about Rs. 3,700 crore has been included in the rolling plan for JICA assistance.

It was also announced the phase II that sprawls about 104 km of the city covering major locations will be expedited. This observation is in stark contrast with that of the one made by the Minister of Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu in Lok Sabha recently.

He said, “Bengaluru and Chennai Metro Rail projects are running behind schedule.”

In his reply to a question on the delay in Metro Rail projects and reasons, he said though the project had to be completed in March 2015, there was delay because of “limited availability of work sites and non-performance of some contractor leading to retendering.”

Now, the approved date of completion for phase I project is next December.

THE HINDU