Chennai, 21 February (H.S.) : The long-anticipated integration of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) with the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has reached a critical stage as Southern Railway has finally submitted the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the Tamil Nadu government.

Sources indicate that after a review by state authorities, the document is expected to be forwarded to the Railway Board for final approval by March. If the board clears the proposal within the next few months, the official signing of the agreement could take place by June, effectively initiating the operational transition that has been under discussion for over a decade.

According to senior state government officials, the project will require an estimated investment of 4000 crore to upgrade the 19.3 km Chennai Beach-Velachery stretch to Metro standards. While the Railway Board provided in-principle approval in July last year, recent discussions have hit minor hurdles due to certain restrictive clauses introduced in the draft by Southern Railway.

The state government plans to hold further discussions within a fortnight to resolve these complexities before resending the document. Once the MoU is signed, a two-year transition period will follow, during which Southern Railway will continue to manage maintenance while CMRL begins its extensive infrastructure revamp.

The modernization plan includes the introduction of 25 new air-conditioned broad-gauge train sets and a complete overhaul of the 18 existing stations. Officials stated that a detailed project report will be prepared by a consultant to identify specific areas for commercial development and passenger amenity upgrades.

Currently, the MRTS carries approximately 80,000 passengers daily, a figure that is expected to rise significantly once it is integrated with the Metro’s unified ticketing and seamless connectivity. The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority is also exploring funding options, including potential loans from the World Bank, to support this major urban mobility shift.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary