J Jayalalithaa to launch Chennai Metro Rail today

Chennai, June 29: The first phase of the Chennai Metro Rail will be launched today by the chief minister of Tamil Nadu-J Jayalalithaa. The flagging off will be done by videoconferencing.

The first phase will connect Alandur in south Chennai to Koyabedu in the north. The 10 kilometer stretch is likely to be covered in 18 minutes. With four coaches and a capacity of 1276 passengers, covering seven stations in the stretch, the metro will cost the state exchequer Rs. 16,500 crore.

Designed to be half underground-half elevated, one corridor of the metro will connect Washermanpet and Airport and the other will connect Chennai Central to St.

Thomas Mount.The stretch from Washermanpet to Saidapet on Anna Salai in corridor I and the portions from Chennai central to Thirumangalam in corridor II will be running underground and th erest of the portion is likely to be elevated.

The Urban Development Minister had earlier said that the Center had sanctioned nine-km stretch till Thiruvottiyur from Washermenpet, under phase-I of the project in North Chennai.

OneIndia News