Chennai Metro Phase II Construction Gets Major Funding Infusion.

In a significant boost to its infrastructure, Chennai has emerged as the top recipient of metro project funding nationwide. An RTI reply revealed that Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has been sanctioned a substantial ₹8,445.8 crore for Phase II in the current financial year. This allocation constitutes nearly one-fourth of the total national outlay of ₹31,755 crore for metro projects.

This surge in funding follows the Central government's approval in October 2024 to designate Chennai Metro Phase II as a centrally-assisted project. This decision came after over three years of financial clearance delays, which had previously compelled the Tamil Nadu state government to bear the project costs independently.

Sources indicate that the state government had earlier expressed reservations about solely shouldering the borrowing burden, fearing its impact on the state's debt ceiling. This resulted in delays ranging from 10 to 14 days in clearing contractor bills as the state juggled funding for various infrastructure projects. However, a senior CMRL official confirmed that since the Centre's involvement, the project has faced no financial constraints. Contractor bills typically range from ₹20 crore for elevated corridors to ₹40 crore for underground stretches.

In another significant development, the Tamil Nadu government has also approved the long-pending Airport-Kilambakkam metro extension. This 15.4km corridor, estimated to cost ₹9,335 crore, is part of the Phase I extension and had been stalled for over five years due to multiple design revisions. Central government clearance for this extension is expected soon. The finalized plan proposes an innovative dual-layer structure along GST Road, featuring an elevated road at the first level and metro tracks on the second. This approval comes amidst growing public criticism regarding the delay in progressing this vital project despite increasing transit demands in the region.

Dayanand Krishnan, a resident-activist from Tambaram who filed the RTI seeking updates on both Phase II and the airport extension, welcomed the developments. He stated that the new Airport-Kilambakkam corridor, encompassing 13 metro stations, is anticipated to significantly alleviate traffic congestion at Chennai's southern gateway. With rapidly expanding areas like Pallavaram, Chromepet, and Tambaram, the project is projected to serve approximately 2.5 million residents and attract a daily ridership of at least 150,000. "The metro link, once operational, could transform commute patterns in these suburban pockets," he added.

The substantial funding for Phase II and the approval of the airport extension signal a renewed momentum for Chennai's metro network expansion, promising enhanced connectivity and a modern public transportation system for the city's growing population.