Metro Rail: Jaya thanks Modi for approving extension of work

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Union Cabinet approving extension of Corridor I of the first phase of Metro rail here.
Referring to the cabinet approval of a proposal to extend Corridor I of Phase I of the Chennai Metro Rail Project from Washermanpet to Tiruvotriyur/Wimco Nagar covering 9.51 km at a cost of Rs 3,770 crore, Jayalalithaa said she had earlier taken up the matter twice with Modi.
"I thank you for the approval accorded to this proposal which would enable Metrorail services to be provided to the densely populated neighbourhoods of northern Chennai," she said in a letter to the Prime Minister.

Metropolitan Chennai was growing rapidly and traffic volumes had increased greatly, she said, adding the state government intended to promote public transport of various forms including metro rail to ensure that the share of public transportation in the city was substantially increased.
She recalled that she had inaugurated the operations of Chennai Metro Rail in June 2015 and that the establishment of Metro Rail in this city was originally conceived of in 2003.
More than 95 per cent of the work and financial expenditure on the Chennai Metro Rail Project has been completed, she said, adding, the stretch currently under operation "has proved to be a convenient and popular public transport mode for Chennai."

"I understand that based on the Union Cabinet's approval, Chennai Metro Rail Limited would be able to commence work immediately. On behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the people of Chennai, I thank you for having accorded clearance for the implementation of the Chennai Metro Project Phase I Extension," she said.
She also thanked Modi for "making a special allocation of food grains for a period of three months from April to June, 2016, for Tamil Nadu.