CMRL floating tenders for Rs.400 cr expansion

In a bid to start work on its second phase of the metro project, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has initiated the work of floating tenders for three consultants to design civil structures and prepare drawing for execution of civil, architectural, track and other works at an investment of Rs.400 crore, claimed official sources, reiterating that the decision on this score was recently taken during a high-level meeting resolving that tenders will be floated to design the alignment of both elevated and underground structures as well as proposed Madhavaram depot. Metro Rail will fund the project and that the cost will be adjusted once the project is approved. Similarly, Metro Rail will also start the geo-technical investigation for the second phase and tenders in this regard will be floated very shortly. Meanwhile, it is learnt that only 50% of the second phase of Metro Rail will be initially be funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency and tenders are likely to be awarded this financial year. Metro Rail had already submitted a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) seeking Rs.80,000 crore for implementing the second phase which will have three corridors covering Madhavaram-Siruseri, Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT)-Lighthouse and Madhavaram-Sholinganallur and also to extend the rail line from Lighthouse near Marina Beach to Poonamallee on the city's outskirts at an additional cost of Rs.3,850 crore.