C Shivakumar @ Chennai:
Southern Railways proposed Chennai-Cuddalore rail link from Perungudi may be shifted to Chengalpet once Chennai Metro Rail and Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) get merged, according to official sources.
Sources said that Southern Railways had a proposal for Chennai-Cuddalore rail link from Perungudi along the East Coast which will pass through Mamallapuram and Puducherry a decade ago. However, the Rs 1200 crore project for the 179km rail line, which is currently gaining prominence, is likely to be hit and may shift from Perungudi to Chengalpet, sources added.
“If MRTS operation is handed to over to CMRL than the starting point may shift to Chengalpet instead of Perungudi,” sources added.
Meanwhile, consultants have been asked to study the value of lands and assets and nomination of share between Metro rail and Railways and between state government and Union government prior to merger.
The proposed study by consultants will also study whether Union Ministry of Urban Development will be acquiring Railways stake in MRTS or will it be Tamil Nadu government.
Metro Rail sources indicated that there was a suggestion to have Union Ministry of Urban Development as one of the stake holders as it could result in communication between both Union government departments over acquiring the stake in Ministry of Railways.
Currently, the state government wants stakeholder inclusiveness as such it has sought to appoint nodal officers from four line departments including Southern Railways and Chennai Metro Rail. “This will help in completing the study on time as it will provide support to the study team,” sources added.
It is also learnt that the consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers and Barsyl have been asked to make projections on the revenue after takeover based on previous data. They will also be looking into the operational issues like merger, transfer, takeover while keeping in view the seamless transfer for commuters, especially at interchange points.
Beach, one of the oldest stations in the suburban rail network, will be bifurcated after the merger, for which assets of Southern Railway and MRTS are being identified to be handed over, Railway sources said.
Sources said that consultants have been instructed to review pros and cons of interoperability and operational issues between MRTS and suburban network post-merger especially between Beach and Port stations based on traffic potential.
Sources told Express that the initial plan was to develop Fort suburban station as the terminus for MRTS services. However, that idea was dropped as Fort did not have adequate land to develop the required infrastructure.
Furthermore, Beach station, which came into existence in 1931, has the land required for developing it as the commercial and operational terminus for MRTS.
Factfile:
1. Chennai Metro-MRTS merger will hit Southern Railways plan for Chennai Perungudi-Cuddalore Link
2. The project will start from Chengalpet once the merger happens
3. Valuation of under-construction Velachery-St Thomas Mount section may be completed by Southern railway and handed over to CMRL
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