MRTS getting substantial funds for second phase of work

By S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI, MARCH 3. As it nears its final stages, the city's Mass Rapid Transit System is getting a substantial infusion of funds in the coming financial year for its second phase, in contrast to its funds starved beginnings over a decade ago.

The MRTS budgeting also faces a change from the allotment pattern of various other rail projects in Tamil Nadu, which have drawn criticism.

The Railway Minister has sanctioned Rs. 40 crores for 2001 - 2002. This, along with the State Government's contribution of Rs. 80 crores, will help see the project through. ``We are confident of commencing the services by the middle of 2002', according to sources in the Metropolitan Transport Project (MTP) (Railways).

The super structure work is almost complete. Except a few, nearly 95 per cent of the PSC Box girders have been placed on trestle beams. The next major work will be laying railway lines. As the Railway Board has already cleared ballastless track for the elevated portion, the RITES will come out with the design while contractors would execute the work. For the surface portion from Taramani II to Velacheri, it will be taken up soon as the ground improvement for that stretch is over.

Meanwhile, construction of all 9 station buildings except Kotturpuram, a road overbridge near Velacheri station, two road underbridges between Taramani and Velacheri, four culverts in the surface portion of the project and a car shed near Velacheri station are progressing as per schedule. Work on the Kotturpuram station building has not begun due to encroachment. The State Government is apprised of the problem and the issue is expected to be resolved soon.

Even if it is not possible to construct full-fledged stations, minimum basic facilities will be provided in stations for operating train services, the sources add.

Suburban Gauge conversion:

However, funds sanctioned by the Ministry for the suburban gauge conversion between Tambaram and Beach are not upto the expectation of officials here. They expected at least Rs. 100 crores both from the Railway Ministry and Tamil Nadu Government for the next financial year. But the Railway Ministry sanctioned only Rs. 32 crores with a matching grant from the State Government.

The requirement of funds for the year 2001 - 2002, 2002 - 2003 and 2003 - 2004 is approximately Rs. 100 crores, Rs. 150 crores and Rs. 120 crores respectively. The shortage of Rs. 36 crores in the next financial year will affect the progress of the project to a certain extent. The administration is hopeful of getting more allotment by the turn of the current year when unutilised funds of other zones would be diverted to the project. So far, Rs. 85.6 crores has been allotted as against the total project cost of Rs. 520 crores.

Regarding progress of the project, Mr. R. Sundararajan, Chief Engineer, Construction, Southern Railway, points out that the first phase conversion of the metre gauge main line between Egmore and Tambaram has been completed.

In the second phase, BG platforms will be constructed in stations where they do not exist at present - at Chetpet, Nungambakkam, Saidapet, Pazhavantangal, Trisoolam, Meenambakkam, Chromepet, and Tambaram Sanatorium. For this, the traffic on the existing BG line will be suspended and diverted to the newly converted line. The BG platform work is expected to be completed by September this year.

This will make two BG lines available with platform facilities in all suburban stations, promising the much needed high capacity to Tambaram sector.

In the last phase, two suburban MG lines between Tambaram and Beach and one MG line from Tambaram to Chengalpattu will be converted.

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