Tamil Nadu pursuing proposal to link Hosur with Bengaluru, more Chennai corridors
The Tamil Nadu government is pursuing a proposal for a Metro rail link between Hosur in Krishnagiri district and Bommasandra in Karnataka, Finance Minister N
The Tamil Nadu government is pursuing a proposal for a Metro rail link between Hosur in Krishnagiri district and Bommasandra in Karnataka, Finance Minister N Marie Wilson said in the Budget on Wednesday. He also said the state government is pressing for early approval of additional Metro corridors and moving ahead with plans to modernise its public transport fleet. Wilson said Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail Project, covering 118.9 km across three corridors at an estimated completion cost of Rs 63,246 crore, is progressing at full speed. He added that the first stretch of Phase II, from Poonamallee Bypass to Porur Junction, linking the existing Vadapalani Metro station and covering 14.64 km with 11 Metro stations, is set to be commissioned shortly.
Read Full Story He said the Chennai Airport-Kilambakkam, Koyambedu-Pattabiram via Avadi, and Poonamallee-Sunguvarchathiram via Sriperumbudur Metro rail projects, recommended by the state, are under the active consideration of the Central government. The state government is pursuing all steps to obtain early approval from the Government of India for these additional Metro rail lines. On the proposed inter-state link, Wilson said, "The government is also pursuing a proposal for Metro rail from Hosur, Krishnagiri district, to Bommasandra in Karnataka with both the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka." Bommasandra is close to both Bengaluru and Hosur.
Wilson said the government recognises the need to modernise the fleet of Tamil Nadu's state transport undertakings. He said, "With this objective, the government will operate electric buses under the gross cost contract model. During the current financial year, 1,000 new air-conditioned electric buses will be procured for the Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation." He said Rs 500 crore has been allocated in the revised Budget Estimates to provide electrical and mechanical fixtures for these buses at bus depots. He added that Rs 7,675 crore has been provided in the revised Budget Estimates as subsidy to the state transport undertakings, Rs 2,650 crore as performance gap funding, and Rs 1,005 crore as share capital assistance.
In the revised Budget Estimates, Rs 13,561 crore has been allocated for the Transport Department, covering the Metro expansion push and support for the state's bus transport system. Ends
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