The Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) is set to take over the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) after decades of planning. The proposal has been sent to the Railway Board for approval and is expected to be finalized by July. The initial plan involves the Southern Railway running train services while CMRL...
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focuses on station development. After in-principle approval, an MoU will be signed, followed by the formation of a special purpose vehicle by CMRL to manage and operate MRTS. Tenders for commercial station development will then be floated, taking over a year. The only remaining decision is whether trains will be fully air-conditioned or have a few air-conditioned coaches. The arrival of coaches after ordering could take another year and a half.