Chennai’s first underground metro line gets operational

Palanisamy ‘broke’ the news after jointly flagging off, along with Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, the 7.4 km Koyambedu - Nehru Park underground stretch from Tirumangalam station, on Sunday, making Chennai the sixth city in the country to have an operational underground metro rail network. 

The Chief Minister, who took a ride with the Naidu, his cabinet colleagues, state BJP leaders and central and state government officials in the maiden train service launched from Tirumangalam station, also requested the union minister to approve the Rs 85,047 crore Phase II of the project, which comprises three routes totalling 107.55 km. 

Acquiescing to the CM’s request, Naidu who described the metro rail project as a “dream” of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, said the government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi would extend all support to achieve her (Jayalalithaa’s) dream. “I feel sad. I am missing her today. I salute her. It is a misfortune that we miss her here. Metro rail is her dream. We will examine the second phase of metro rail. A MoU has already been signed between the Centre and the State. Some changes must be made to it. Whatever is feasible will be done,” the minister added, estimating that about 7.7 lakh people would travel by metro rail daily when the Phase I, for which Centre has released Rs 11,300 crore thus far, is completed, thereby increasing the share of public transport substantially. 

To promote digital transactions and increase patronage, CMRL slashed its Smart travel card price by 80 pc to Rs 10. No tokens will be sold on the underground route. Even vending machines at underground stations would facilitate recharges only. CMRL offered 10 pc discount per ticket for every journey undertaken using the travel card. Though Rs 60 should be the actual cost of travel from Nehru Park to Airport, it would only cost Rs 54 for travel from the underground stretch.