Chennai metro is yet to receive Central funds

New Delhi, Aug 26: Central Funds have not been released in 2010 for the railway network built in Chennai by Chennai Metro Rail as the State government has not signed the Memorandum of Understanding, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday, Aug 26.

Responding to supplementaries in Question Hour, Minister of State for Urban Development Saugata Roy said Chennai Metro is a special purpose vehicle which is funded by the State government and the Central government.

The Union government has allocated Rs. 652 crore for Chennai Metro in 2010-11 but funds will be released after signing MoU, he said.

“We urge the Tamil Nadu government to sign the MoU so that the Government of India can release funds," he said.

For the past three years, the Centre has given Rs. 152.79 crore to the project while the State government has contributed Rs. 1,050 crore.

“The total funds utilised so far for this project is Rs. 306.24 crore as on Jul 31, 2010," he said adding the project is scheduled for completion by 2015.

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