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The Union ministry of urban development has granted the in-principle approval for the proposed Phase-I monorail project in Tamil Nadu. The estimated cost of the Phase-I project amounts to Rs 3,267 crore.
Under the project, the Phase-I monorail services will be provided between Poonamalle and Kathipara with a link from Porur to Vadapalani, covering 20.68 km and costing Rs 3267 crore.
As per the approval, the project would be implemented under a ‘design, build, finance, operate and Transfer (DBFOT)’ model, with the entire funding expected from the state government/state government agencies and a PPP partner.
The Union ministry’s approval comes against the background of Tamil Nadu government’s assurance that it would ensure price-based measures to promote ridership as part of an integrated traffic rationalisation plan for the city.
Other considerations include the state setting up a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority, duly backed by legislation to facilitate coordinated planning and implementation of urban transport projects.
The Tamil Nadu government and the Centre would also set up a joint oversight mechanism, the details of which would be incorporated in the joint memorandum of understanding.
The project had received Rs 200 crore from the state administration in the 2014-15 budget estimate, and would be implemented by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd
The corporation has called for request for qualification (RFQ) from the interested parties to bring out a detailed scope of work, eligibility criteria, feasibility report, ridership estimation report, MTC bus passenger data among others.
The AIADMK government, after coming back to power in 2011, announced it would implement a Rs 16,650-crore monorail project for Chennai. The project would be implemented for the entire distance in a restructured form. The work was to be taken up initially in the first three corridors and subsequently, it would cover the fourth corridor. The state government cited the land acquisition for the project to be very minimal.
Monorails equipped with the latest technology are safe, occupy less than a square metre space when columns are located on a central median; and are easy to construct, quick to execute, cause minimal disruption during construction, aesthetically pleasing, require no grid power for operation besides being environment-friendly and cost efficient. They also have the advantage of branching and serving interior areas and are not confined to a corridor.
