Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, urging him to expedite the approval process for Phase-II of the Chennai Metro Rail project. He highlighted the significant strain the prolonged delay was placing on the state’s financial resources.
The Chief Minister appealed for Modi’s direct involvement in expediting the approval process for the Rs 63,246 crore project, citing the successful intervention witnessed during the first phase.
What happened during Phase-l?
Highlighting that Phase-I of the project was effectively executed through a 50:50 collaboration between the Union Government and Tamil Nadu, he emphasised that the government has greenlit Phase-II under the same framework, encompassing three additional corridors spanning 119 km, with a budget of Rs 63,246 crore. Stalin noted that with recommendations from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and NITI Aayog, funding approvals from Japan International Cooperation Agency and ADB Bank have also been secured.
“The Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) laid the foundation for Phase-II of CMRL project on November 21, 2020. Our government was eagerly awaiting the approval by the Union government after the announcement for the counterpart funding made in the Budget for 2021-22,” he said.
Despite raising the matter in his meetings with Modi, Stalin lamented the lack of progress, stating that he has been informed that the above proposal has been awaiting approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for over two years now. Expressing hope for the Centre’s swift approval, he highlighted that his government had already initiated work on Phase-II to ensure adherence to timelines. Stalin emphasised the strain on state finances due to utilising state funds in the absence of CCEA approval for the Union share, which has led to a slowdown in progress. Urging immediate action, he stressed the importance of addressing the issue promptly to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Chennai regarding this vital project.
(With PTI inputs)