Chennai Phase II Metro: Centre’s share not very different from other metro projects

Chennai Metro Rail Phase-II funding dispute between Centre and Tamil Nadu, crucial for city's growing population.

The Phase-II of the Chennai Metro Rail has once again emerged as a bone of contention between the Centre and Tamil Nadu, with the Centre reiterating it as a “State-sector” project in a recent reply in the Lok Sabha.

In fact, the Public Investment Board (PIB) had recommended it as a ‘central sector project’ in August 2021, just months after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam formed the State government. However, the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has not approved it till now.

Also read: Will the Centre release its share of funds for Metro Rail work?

While the project is indeed cost-intensive, as the Centre had suggested many times in the past, data shows that the Centre’s share is not a far cry from the funds sanctioned for Metros in other cities such as Bengaluru. Moreover, the project is a necessity as the population in the city’s exteriors which are not connected by Metro is growing rapidly.

Chart 1 depicts the size and cost of various Metro projects — both completed and under construction. The three Metro projects in Chennai — Phase 1, Phase 1A and Phase 2 — are highlighted.

The chart shows the total route length in km for each project on the horizontal axis.

The cost in rupee crore is depicted along the vertical axis. Chennai Metro’s second phase with a route length of 118.9 km is estimated to cost ₹63,246.4 crore, making it the costliest-ever Metro project undertaken in India.