Madras High Court paves way for completion of MRTS Phase II extension project

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Madras High Court has cleared the way for Rs 495 crore Phase II extension of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) between Velachery and St Thomas Mount after dismissing the petitions challenging the acquisition of land and deviation in the project.

While dismissing the writ petitions challenging land acquisition, Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice M Sathyanarayanan in their order gave a clean chit to the deviations from the orginal plan of MRTS project stating that it was done after taking in the opinion of the experts and the decision was not actuated by malafides.

Interestingly, as per the original plan, the construction of MRTS station at St Thomas Mount was on the southern side of existing suburban station. But when Chennai Metro project was conceived, a survey suggested to construct the MRTS station at the northern side of existing St Thomas railway station.  Later it was decided to integrate three modes of transport at St Thomas Mount railway station.

The judges said as regards deviation in alignment, it is contended that on account of implementation of the composite corridor, integrated railway station would come into existence at St Thomas Mount Railway Station where in MRTS, Chennai Metro Rail line and long distance (inter-city) rail lines would be at one place and such a decision was taken as per the Metro Transport Project (railways) and it cannot be faulted with.

“In fact, the Inner ring Road has not been modified but alignment has been marginally shifted westwards to an extent of two meters to 14 meters just before the stand-alone rail alignment which deflects from the IRR and it is only a small modification to the extent of 500 meters,” the judges said.

“The decision was also taken in public interest by taking into consideration ground realities and facts and circumstances and expert opinion in this regard cannot be lightly interfered with,” the judges said.

Interestingly, the proposed alignment and extension of Phase-II took place in the year 2008 and during last three years between 2008-2011, the authorities have completed the work of 3.7 km out of 5 km of MRTS line.

Now acquisition of lands and the remaining work is to be done is only for about 1.3 km and the area belonging to the petitioners is only to an extent of 500 meters out of the balance of 1.3 kms and the project is to be completed.

The project envisages development of the elevated MRTS on single pillars along the median of the Inner Ring Road (IRR) from MBL Road to St Thomas Road for a distance of about 5 km.

The state government is sharing the 33 per cent of cost while 67 per cent is shared by Union government. The project envisages construction of two intermediate stations Puzhuthivakkam and Adambakkam.