Madurai Metro Rail project: groundwork for land acquisition, shifting of utility lines to begin soon

CMRL anticipates approval for Madurai Metro Rail DPR, begins groundwork for land acquisition and utility line shifting.

Anticipating approval for the detailed project report (DPR) for Madurai Metro Rail Project, Chennai Metro Rail Limited has proposed to begin the groundwork for land acquisition and shifting of utility lines along the proposed alignment in Madurai.

“Taking up the preparatory work for land acquisition and shifting of water lines, sewer lines and other utilities would cost meagre which can be borne CMRL. But, thereby we can save some six months of time (before commencement of construction work),” said its Managing Director M.A. Siddique.

Along with the CMRL Director, Projects, T. Archunan, Mr. Siddique held a consultation meeting with officials of various departments led by Collector M.S. Sangeetha and Corporation Commissioner Chithra Vijayan here on Tuesday.

CMRL has proposed to construct 32-km-long metro rail line between Othakadai and Tirumangalam at a cost of ₹11,368 crore with 26 stations.

While 5.5 km of the line would be underground the remaining 26.5 km would be on an elevated stretch, he said.

“Construction work for underground stretch would take up to 4.5 years and for elevated stretch up to 3.5 years,” he said.

However, the work like land acquisition and shifting of utility lines would require around 10% of the total project cost. But, it would take a longer period of up to two years. “That is why we are taking up the initiatives for those works,” he said.