Tamil Nadu is pursuing a Metro rail link between Hosur in Krishnagiri district and Bommasandra in Karnataka, Finance Minister N Marie Wilson announced in the state Budget. The proposal is being pursued with both the Government of India and the Karnataka government.
Wilson said Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail Project, spanning 118.9 km across three corridors at an estimated cost of Rs 63,246 crore, is progressing at full speed. The first stretch, from Poonamallee Bypass to Porur Junction, covering 14.64 km with 11 Metro stations and linking the existing Vadapalani Metro station, is set to be commissioned shortly.
The state is also pressing for early central approval for additional Metro corridors including Chennai Airport-Kilambakkam, Koyambedu-Pattabiram via Avadi, and Poonamallee-Sriperumbudur, all currently under active consideration by the Government of India.
On public transport modernisation, Wilson said the government will operate electric buses under the gross cost contract model, with 1,000 new air-conditioned electric buses to be procured for the Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation.
