According to Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority, MRTS was designed to handle 6.5 lakh passengers a day, but it carries just around 80,000.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
In a significant development, the Tamil Nadu government will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Railways in December this year for Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to take over the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS). The takeover will be completed by December 2027.
At a high-level meeting held on Monday, the State government gave in-principle approval for the signing of the MoU and for assigning the responsibility of operation, management, and maintenance of MRTS to CMRL. The government also approved the Comprehensive Mobility Plan for Chennai at the meeting, and it will be rolled out this week, sources said. The MoU will be signed after the Railways gives its concurrence, which is expected in December.
“The minutes of the meeting on the Comprehensive Mobility Plan have been drafted and sent to the government… The next round of discussions with the Railways will be held later this week or early next week,” a source said.
After considering the takeover for years, the Railways gave its approval in July this year. Since then, Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has been drafting the MoU and coordinating with the Tamil Nadu government, CMRL, and the Railways for accelerating the project. CUMTA and CMRL are also finalising the detailed project report.
Commuters have been demanding this project, arguing that it will help to resolve some problems they face. According to CUMTA, MRTS was designed to handle 6.5 lakh passengers a day, but it carries just around 80,000.
Published – September 22, 2025 11:14 pm IST
