The Tamil Nadu government, along with Southern Railway, will carry out a feasibility study for the introduction of air-conditioned coaches and coaches with facilities, as preferred by commuters, in the Chennai suburban trains, especially those running from the Beach to Chengalpattu.
Announcing this in the Assembly, Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, who also handles the portfolio of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, said the government would continue to take steps for securing the Union government’s approval for the proposal of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) taking over the operation and maintenance of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Southern Railway.
Studies would be conducted for the extension of Corridor 3, to be formed under Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail Project, from Siruseri to Kelambakkam and from Kelambakkam to the Kilambakkam bus terminus through Mambakkam and Vandalur. This would link the National Highways 45 with the Old Mamallapuram Road. Similar exercises would be carried out to cover the Poonnamallee bypass-Sriperumpudur stretch (as part of the extension of Corridor 4) and Thirumangalam-Avadi (Corridor 5).
