T.N. gives green light to Chennai Metro Rail for preparatory work on Koyambedu-Avadi-Pattabiram project
The development comes even as Chennai Metro Rail awaits the Union government's approval for the same extension project. In May this year, after granting approval for the project, the State government submitted a detailed project report to the Centre. However, Chennai Metro Rail also needs to provide a Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, so it could scrutinise and approve the project.
In an order dated 18 August, the Planning, Development and Special Initiatives department of the State government said Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) can commence the preparatory work for the proposed corridor of Koyambedu to Pattabiram via Avadi to be carried out via the Outer Ring Road.
While the entire cost of the Koyambedu-Avadi-Pattabiram corridor is ₹9,928.33 crore, for the preparatory work alone, CMRL will require ₹2,442 crore. This will be issued by the State government to CMRL as subordinate debt, the order says.
As part of the preliminary work, CMRL will start topographic surveys, geotechnical investigation, felling of trees and replantation, traffic management and moving utilities. These processes will require ₹188 crore. A significant part of the ₹2,442-crore allocated now will go toward the cost of land acquisition, including the structure cost. For the entirely elevated Koyambedu-Avadi-Pattabiram corridor, CMRL will construct stations at 19 locations that includes Padi Pudhu Nagar, Golden Flat Junction, Ambattur Estate, Ambattur Station, Ambattur OT, Thirumullaivoyal, Avadi Railway Station, Pattabiram, and Outer Ring Road.
Residents of Avadi, meanwhile, have urged the Tamil Nadu government to send the CMP to the Centre soon. T. Sadagopan, a resident of Avadi, said the commute of thousands of people from the central parts of the city to Avadi, Ambattur, and Pattabiram will get smoother if the project is implemented soon. 'There are several Central government establishments in these areas, and we fervently hope that the Centre approves the project soon,' he said.
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