Railway Board gives in-principle approval to MRTS-CMRL merger; formal clearance still pending
Chennai: The long-awaited merger of Chennai’s MRTS with the city’s metro rail network has moved a step closer, with the Railway Board giving its in-principle approval to transfer operations to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL).
While a final decision is yet to be made, the move signals renewed momentum on the stalled integration plan.
The development comes after the commissioning of a critical fourth railway line between Chennai Beach and Chennai Egmore — a prerequisite for the merger.
The ₹279.8 crore project, sanctioned in March 2022, was completed earlier this year.
In a written response to questions raised in Parliament by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Indian Railways and the Tamil Nadu government have jointly worked out the principles for a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
However, the merger would depend on resolving pending issues related to train operations, asset maintenance, and safety.
A special committee of officials from Indian Railways and the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has finalised the broad contours of the MoU, the minister informed.
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