CHENNAI: After years of discussion, CMRL’s move to take over the MRTS line is on track yet again. Metro rail has already firmed up plans to manage the line.
A consultant, roped in to monetise metro rail assets and increase revenue, will study commercial exploitation potential of the MRTS stations on Beach-Velachery line. The line will be extended to St Thomas Mount by the time the takeover agreement is signed, an official said.
Another CMRL official said discussions are underway for metro rail to acquire and handover land to Southern Railway for construction of a new line between Beach and Park stations, so that the railways will have an exclusive track for their trains. A separate line will be needed on the small stretch because suburban trains and MRTS currently share tracks.
Officials said takeover of MRTS assets minus the liabilities were discussed in meetings, and CMRL will run it to generate operational profits. “They’ve made a condition that we have to give them one more line between Beach and Park stations. Discussions are stuck at that level,” the official added. “We told them we will acquire land and they can lay the line. They have agreed but everything is only on a discussion level, nothing is yet on paper,” the official said.
CMRL also plans some improvements to the existing MRTS rakes for uniformity in commuter amenities, instead of buying a new set of broad gauge rakes. The metro uses standard gauge.
A spokesman of the Southern Railway said “We have to complete the new line otherwise our operations will be affected. Discussions are going on with the state government to acquire land for the work. The line is our priority now.”
R Ramanathan, a retired railway officer, who was part of the takeover discussions during the early stages, said cmrl can generate, in the short term, a lot of income by developing the large but empty stations in prime locations.
For the long term, CMRL can procure and operate its own train sets, upgrade signals to run trains every two to three minutes. CMRL can also bring in its own men. “The takeover is an advantage for the railways. The railway zone is governed by certain rules and that’s why they were not able to make use of the space in the last 20 years. CMRL will look at it as an asset,” he said.