Chennai: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has reportedly directed the Railway Board to accelerate the long-pending merger of Chennai’s Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) with Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL).
The move follows Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent NITI Aayog gathering, during which a memorandum highlighting critical infrastructure demands was submitted.
Among the key requests was the transfer of operational control of the MRTS to CMRL to improve urban mobility in the city.
The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), which has been facilitating this initiative in recent years, submitted its formal proposal to the Railway Board in February 2024.
The proposal pointed out that MRTS currently runs at an annual operating cost of around Rs 104 crore, while generating only about Rs 50 crore in revenue, a clear indication of operational inefficiencies.
Commuters have repeatedly raised concerns about the poor condition of MRTS stations compared to the well-maintained and efficient Chennai Metro Rail.
Many believe integrating the systems under a single operator like CMRL would significantly improve passenger experience, station maintenance, and overall connectivity.
Despite the vast commercial potential of MRTS stations, underutilisation remains a concern, adding urgency to the need for takeover and reform.
