Chennai, Aug 21:
The Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is set for a major transformation, with the Railway Ministry giving final approval to integrate the suburban rail corridor with Chennai Metro Rail.
The 23.98-km MRTS corridor currently connects Chennai Beach with Velachery and caters to around one lakh passengers daily. The Velachery–St Thomas Mount extension, which became operational on March 15, has further strengthened connectivity along the route.
Under the integration plan, Southern Railway will hand over assets and general operations, excluding core train operations and maintenance, within 90 days. The complete transfer of train operations to Chennai Metro Rail is expected to be completed over a two-year transition period.
During the transition, commuters are expected to benefit from several upgrades, including air-conditioned trains, parking facilities, CCTV cameras, escalators and lifts.
The integration is aimed at providing MRTS passengers with facilities comparable to those available on modern Metro systems and significantly improving the overall travel experience.
The move is expected to give the long-neglected MRTS corridor a major facelift while strengthening Chennai’s integrated public transport network and providing better facilities for thousands of daily commuters.