An aerial view of MRTS railway line at Chennai. File
| Photograph Credit score: S.R. Raghunathan
The Union Ministry of Railways has lastly permitted the proposal for merger of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) with the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) for which a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) has additionally been signed. In a round issued by Railway Board, New Delhi, to the Common Supervisor of Southern Railway dated August 12, 2026 the draft MoU signed between the Southern Railway and the Tamil Nadu authorities in Could this yr goes out to broadly define the handing over of belongings, and the operation and upkeep of MRTS suburban prepare providers.
The draft MoU goes on to elucidate the development of the MRTS venture, which was initiated within the First Grasp Plan of 1975, and the operation of suburban prepare providers from Seashore to Velachery and later extended to St. Thomas Mount railway station, which was commissioned in March this yr. The prolonged portion of the MRTS has two railway stations of Puzhithivakkam and Adambakkam with one station yet to be made operational.
A senior official of Southern Railway stated the merger of the MRTS which was initiated by way of a proposal despatched by the State authorities to the Chairman of Railway Board dated January 27, 2011, has lastly come to fruition after a number of conferences.
Transition interval
As per the draft MoU, the Southern Railway can be handing over the belongings and normal operations and upkeep, besides the core prepare operations and upkeep half inside 90 days. Throughout the transition interval of two years, your complete prepare operations can be handed over to the CMRL.
Throughout the two-year transition interval inside which era the Tamil Nadu authorities must pay the agreed quantity in full or celebration funds, the settlement specifies switch of lands, infrastructure protecting 19 of the 21 railway stations of lifts, escalators, foot over bridges, tracks, signalling and telecom methods and the rolling inventory {of electrical} a number of models (EMUs).
With the MRTS having interface with the railway stations of the Chennai division at Seashore, and Fort, it has been proposed to allocate two platforms of 9 and 10 at Seashore for MRTS providers and at Fort Station, building of a crossing station by the State authorities for offering observe crossovers. Between Fort and Seashore, the MRTS has just one observe in opposition to the traditional provision of two tracks. In case the State authorities has plans to create a twin observe, the Southern Railway would contemplate conserving in view the operational flexibility and relevant land administration coverage of the Ministry of Railways.
The Railway Board has shaped a particular committee of senior stage officers from the Southern Railway and the State authorities with the CUMTA convenor being the coordinating officer of this committee.
Shopper activist T. Sadagopan, welcoming the transfer of the merger of MRTS with CMRL, stated this could assist in the operational effectivity of the prepare providers however would additionally put a full cease to the demand for direct providers from St. Thomas Mount railway station to Arakkonam and Gummiddipoondi. Prior to now, direct providers had been operated from Velachery to Arakkonam on the west part and Gummiddipoondi on the north part through Seashore railway station.
Revealed – August 18, 2026 03:48 pm IST
