Govt yet to give green signal to CMDA’s metro rail unit

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The continuance of Metro Rail Unit in Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority hangs in balance as the state government has yet to give a green signal three months after its term came to end.

Sources said the one-year tenure of the Metro Rail Unit came to an end on June 21 this year and the government was urged in June to extend its tenure till next year.

The unit accomplished various tasks including handing over of lands to Chennai Metro Rail for Chennai Metro Rail Depot in Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex (KWMC) besides traffic diversion during construction of metro viaduct and metro stations, formation of new roads in KWMC and Koyambedu Bus Stand areas as a fallout of the ongoing metro rail works, sources added.

Interestingly, while the Chennai Metro Rail reimburses 75 per cent of expenses on the metro rail unit’s 9 staff, the CMDA bears the balance 25 per cent of the expenses besides full expenditure on the Chief Accounts Officer.

Sources say the need for continuance of the Metro Rail Unit for a period of one year has been necessitated for expediting the follow up actions that include implementing the metro rail system with vital infrastructure such as accessibility, pedestrian facilities, improved circulation, inter-modal integration, and restructuring the road network.

Interestingly, CMRL has recommended the continuance of the Metro Rail Unit with the 10 staff for a further period of one year from June 22 to June 21, 2012.

Interestingly, even the Transferrable Development Rights department tenure also comes to an end on August 28, 2011. The Housing and Urban Development department ahd accorded sanction for creation of separate division in the CMDA to attend the works relating to TDR with 10 staff for one year and further continuance of these posts are reviewed every year. Recently, a two year extension for the department is sought.