The metro rail Phase-II stretch from Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani is likely to be commissioned soon, said finance minister Thangam Thenarasu said in his interim budget speech on Tuesday. He added that the state govt will continue to press the Centre for approval of metro projects in Coimbatore and Madurai.The minister said regulatory clearances from the railway board for commissioning the first stage of Phase-II –– the 14.6km Poonamallee Bypass–Porur corridor, which will be integrated with the existing line at Vadapalani ––are expected shortly. The stretch will have 11 stations.Thenarasu said the State has incurred 9,500 crore towards what he described as the Union government’s share under the agreed 50:50 model, which continues to be reflected in the State’s outstanding debt. The 118.9km Phase-II with three corridors is being built at an estimated cost of 63,246 crore. “This adversely affects the state’s debt-GSDP ratio, and reduced our ability to borrow within our permissible borrowing limits, thus affecting our liquidity. Despite repeated reminders, the Union govt has not acted upon our request,” he said.Recalling the status of metro proposals in other cities, the minister said the Centre sent back the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for Coimbatore and Madurai on the grounds that their population was below 20 lakh. “The govt of Tamil Nadu is continuously urging the Union Govt to reconsider this decision and to accord approval for the metro rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai, as has been done for other similarly placed cities in the country,” he said.The minister added that in-principle approval has been granted for metro rail extensions from Chennai airport to Kilambakkam, Koyambedu to Avadi, and Poonamallee to Sunguvarchathiram, pending Union govt approval and assistance.
