Chennai: Decks were cleared on Wednesday for the extension of Chennai Metro from Washermenpet to Wimconagar in north Chennai with the Union Cabinet approving the proposal at a cost of Rs 3,770 crore.
The 9-km extension envisages connecting Washermenpet with Wimconagar, which would be a mix of underground and elevated lines. The Union urban development ministry, which holds 50 per cent stake in Chennai Metro Rail Corporation, had given its go ahead for the project in December last year and placed the proposal before the Union Cabinet.
The project will be completed by March 2018. The new extension will be part of the Washermenpet-Airport line. “This extension will provide improved access to public transport for dense population comprising predominantly industrial workers to move towards the central business district of the city for work,” an official release said.
In the total project cost, Government of India's share will be Rs 713 crore and Government of Tamil Nadu’s share will be Rs 916 crore. The share of TN govt included cost of land and R&R of Rs 203 crore. The balance amount of Rs 2,141 crore will be met from loan from multilateral/bilateral/domestic funding agency, it said.
The estimated ridership will be 1.6 lakh passengers per day in first year of operation. The Metro Line, once operational, will bring in a paradigm shift in the way people travel from North Chennai to other parts of the city. The Metro's Koyambedu-Alandur section was inaugurated in June, 2015 and other stations on the line are expected to be operational in phases beginning next year.
