Chennai's long-delayed MRTS merger with metro rail gains traction, but timeline remains elusive

Railways completes key infrastructure upgrade; committee finalises framework, but transfer awaits political and operational consensus

Chennai:

The long-pending merger of Chennai’s Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) with the city’s expanding metro rail network has moved a step closer to reality, following the completion of a critical infrastructure project and the finalisation of a broad framework for asset transfer. 

Official sources revealed that Railway Board in principle agreed to the proposal for handing over a formal decision is awaited.

In a written response to questions raised in Parliament by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that while the Indian Railways and the Tamil Nadu government have jointly prepared the principles for a formal memorandum of understanding (MoU), the operational merger would be contingent on resolving challenges related to train operations, asset maintenance, and safety.

The proposal to transfer MRTS operations to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) — first studied by a consultant appointed by CMRL in 2018 — had been on hold pending completion of the fourth railway line between Chennai Beach and Chennai Egmore, a 4-km stretch seen as critical for ensuring adequate rail capacity following the transfer.

That project, sanctioned in March 2022 at a cost of ₹279.8 crore, was commissioned earlier this year. A special committee comprising officials from Indian Railways and the state’s Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has since prepared the broad contours of the MoU, according to the Minister.

Yet despite these developments, the merger still awaits in-principle approval from the Railway Board, and no formal MoU has been signed.

In Parliament, Kanimozhi pressed the Ministry for transparency on the financial and operational models being considered and flagged the need for clarity on possible objections to the handover of MRTS infrastructure. “This merger has the potential to significantly improve commuter experience in Chennai through integrated services and unified ticketing systems,” she said, while underscoring the bureaucratic inertia that has delayed the project.

First conceived as a suburban rail line but plagued by low ridership and inadequate connectivity, the MRTS has long been seen as a candidate for integration with the metro system to improve last-mile access and urban mobility. But questions over asset ownership, funding liabilities, and regulatory oversight have slowed progress.

While officials agree that the handover would improve synergy between transport modes, particularly for multimodal commuting across Chennai, a formal agreement and timeline remain on hold — a reminder of the political and procedural friction that often attends large-scale urban transport reforms in India.