CHENNAI (Metro Rail & Steel): Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) Managing Director M.A Siddique highlighted the need for an additional 280 km of metro rail lines in Chennai, costing an estimated Rs 1 lakh crore. Speaking at the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Summit 2023 organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Chennai Chapter, Siddique emphasized the city’s requirement for expanded metro infrastructure.
Siddique referenced the Comprehensive Mobility Plan of 2019, indicating that the city necessitates a total of 451 km of metro rail lines. Currently, Chennai boasts 54 km and 116 km of metro lines from the first and second phases, respectively. He underscored the disparity between Chennai’s 14 km long metro lines per million people compared to cities like Shanghai and Seoul, which boast 30-50 km lines per million inhabitants.
Highlighting the surge in daily patronage from 3 lakh to 3.5 lakh, Siddique anticipated it reaching 4 lakh commuters next year. Additionally, he mentioned the forthcoming revamped comprehensive mobility plan, hinting at potential transformative changes in the city’s commuting landscape. Siddique proposed the introduction of Light Rail Transit (LRT), an advanced tram system, as part of the proposed enhancements.
The summit, inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan, aimed to address critical infrastructure needs and explore avenues for enhancing transportation systems to meet the growing demands of the populace.
