The proposed Chennai’s MRTS–Metro Merger remains stalled as the Indian Railways Board has yet to give in-principle approval, halting the long-awaited integration of the city’s Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) with the Chennai Metro network. According to officials from the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), despite the state completing all preparatory work, the Railways’ nod remains the missing piece.
The merger plan, which gained momentum after a 2022 meeting led by then Chief Secretary Irai Anbu, has been in the pipeline since 2018 but has faced several delays, including land acquisition issues between Beach and Park stations. Currently, the MRTS operates along a 15 km elevated route, cutting through Chennai’s business districts and into its IT corridor. However, the system is underutilized despite being capable of handling 4.25 lakh daily passengers.
CUMTA reportedly incurs an annual operational cost exceeding Rs 101 crore while earning only Rs 18 crore in ticket revenue, leading to a deficit of Rs 84.1 crore before merger talks began. The merger includes plans for a Phase-II extension of 5 km and three new stations, plus the acquisition of 150 EMU coaches for Rs 140 crore. A dry lease model is also under review to bridge the operational transition.
