MRS will ease traffic congestion: TN Chief Secretary

Chennai, Sep 21 (UNI) The proposed Rs 12,500 crore Metro Rail System (MRS) will ease traffic congestion in the city, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary L K Tripathy said today.

Talking to newspersons here, he said ''apart from reducing the traffic congestion, the MRS would attract more passengers due to its lower cost.

''The MRS project is likely to be taken-up for implementation during this financial year,'' he said adding ''the detailed project report is expected before this September end.'' Mr Tripathy said ''the construction works on Phase-II Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for a length of 11.17 km, at an estimated cost of Rs 733.39 crore, is almost over and will commence shortly.'' He said ''recognising the need for a complete rail loop, it has been decided to extend the MRTS from Velachery to St Thomas Mount, covering a distance of five km, at an estimated cost of Rs 495.74 crore.'' UNI