Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa Launches First Phase of Chennai Metro

[manindra]

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister today launched the first phase of the Chennai Metro via videoconferencing.

Here are the latest developments in the story:

1. The 10-km overhead metro stretch will connect Alandur in south Chennai to Koyabedu in the north and will be covered in 18 minutes.
2. The metro will bear four coaches with a capacity of 1276 passengers.
3. It will cover seven stations in the stretch.
4. The two corridors of Phase-1 of Chennai Metro Rail will cost the state Rs. 16,500 crore and will cover a 45-km stretch in the city.
5. Designed as half underground and the rest elevated, corridor 1 is between Washermanpet and the airport and corridor 2, from Chennai Central to St. Thomas Mount.
6. The portions from Washermanpet to Saidapet in corridor I and the portions from Chennai Central to Thirumangalam in corridor II will be underground and the remaining portions will be elevated.
7. Corridor 2 connecting Chennai Central and St. Thomas Mount is likely to be ready by the end of this year.
8. Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu had said that Centre had approved an extension of a nine-km stretch up to Thiruvottiyur from Washermenpet under phase-I of the project. However, it was not included.
9. The launch was initially planned for October last year but was met with many delays.
10. The Metro Rail Project plan was approved under the DMK regime.

http://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/chief-minister-j-jayalalithaa-to-launch-chennai-metro-rail-today-776270