MRTS to be Integrated into Chennai Metro Rail as Merger Approved by Railway Ministry.

The Ministry of Railways has officially approved the merger of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) with the Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL). This landmark decision aims to significantly improve and integrate suburban mobility across the Greater Chennai Area, marking the culmination of a process initiated by the state government in 2011.

The approval was formalized on July 31, following a detailed presentation by Southern Railway to the Railway Board on July 16, which recommended the proposal.

Under the terms of the merger, all MRTS infrastructure—including tracks, bridges, signaling, electrification, and land—will be transferred to the Government of Tamil Nadu and CMRL. The responsibility for the operations and maintenance of MRTS services will also be handed over. A detailed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is currently being drafted to formalize the transfer.