Jayalalithaa urges Centre to amend Chennai Metro MoU

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday urged the Centre to amend the Chennai Metro Rail MoU to do away with provisions that are against the state's interests.

"In 2011 the then DMK government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the central government and Chennai Metro Rail," Jayalalithaa said here on the occasion of laying the foundation for the 9-km first phase extension of Metro rail between Washermanpet and Wimco Nagar.

Several provisions of the MoU are against the state government's interests and she had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to amend these, she said.

She urged the central government amend the MoU without affecting the interests of the state.

Jayalalithaa said taking into effect the traffic congestion in North Chennai the then DMK government in 2010 sent a proposal to the central government to extend the Metro rail line from Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar.

However the Congress party that was heading the coalition government at the centre did not accord its permission, Jayalalithaa said.

According to Jayalalithaa, owing to her government's attempts and with the cooperation of Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu, the central government has given its sanction to the project now.

Jayalalithaa said her government finding the 45.1 km metro rail will not be sufficient for the future needs has decided to lay three more lines in the second phase of expansion.

Two lines will start from Madhavaram and the work on detailed project report is under progress, she said.

According to her, the funding for the project is expected from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the project will be sent to the central government soon for approval.

Speaking at the function, Naidu said the Metro line extension project will decongest North Chennai and also provide employment opportunity for many.