Railway Board gives in-principle approval for MRTS takeover by Chennai Metro Rail Limited

In a huge development, nearly 15 years after the idea was mooted first, the takeover of the Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is finally a reality as the Railway Board has given its in-principle approval for the project.

“The detailed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) [with the framework, broad principles and transfer of assets] between the Tamil Nadu government and the Railways is likely to be signed before the end of September. After the MoU is signed, CMRL will take over the MRTS but the entire transition will be gradual and over by 2027,” a senior official in Indian Railways, New Delhi, told The Hindu.

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, on behalf of the State government will sign the MoU with Railways, a source in the State government said. For years now, commuters have been stressing on safer, cleaner stations with better accessibility in the MRTS network which currently runs for 19.3 km from Chennai Beach to Velachery.

Although the approval is big relief for the commuters and also Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) and the Tamil Nadu government which has been persistently pushing for this project for long now, the takeover process is likely to be protracted.

“Railways will continue to operate the trains for the next two years as we don’t have any disruption for the passengers. We have to make the transition as gradual as possible,” an official said.

Commuters may have to continue to wait for a minimum of a year and half to start seeing improvements in stations and at least two years to see a marked change in the entire network like new trains. Meanwhile, funds have to be mobilised for the upgradation.

First, CUMTA has asked CMRL to carry out an extensive study for station upgrade; on completion of this study, CMRL has to float tenders to execute the station improvement. Also, they have to order coaches for the new trains and the delivery will take about 18-20 months.

“Only after the MoU, the revised fare structure of the system and whether the train will have a mix of air conditioned and non air conditioned coaches or will be fully air-conditioned coaches will be decided,” the official pointed out.