First phase of Metro Rail to be completed by end-2017.

While the government has promised to complete Chennai Metro Rail - Phase I by 2017 and take up Phase II at the earliest, it has gone silent on Monorail.

Addressing the Assembly, Governor K. Rosaiah said the government will expedite the work on Chennai Metro Rail Phase I and commence the services in the entire network before the end of 2017.

Currently, the Metro is operating passenger services between Koyambedu and Alandur, and services on the stretch from Little Mount to Airport and from Alandur to St. Thomas Mount will be inaugurated soon.

With sustained efforts, he said the government was able to secure Centre’s approval for the extension of Corridor-I of the Metro Rail line from Washermenpet to Tiruvotriyur/Wimco Nagar at a cost of Rs. 3,770 crore, and the work will commence immediately. The government will take up implementation of Phase–II of the Chennai Metro Rail at the earliest, he said.

Committed to meet the ever-increasing demand for drinking water, he said the government will expedite the work for establishing two more desalination plants near Chennai with a capacity of 150 mld at Nemmeli and 400 mld at Perur.

THE HINDU