Tamil Nadu Cheif Minister J Jayalalitha today inaugurated the first phase of Chennai Metro Rail service between Alandur to Koyambedu. Jayalalithaa flagged off the Rs 14,600-crore Metro rail service through video-conferencing from Secretariat. The first train which left at 12.15 PM from Alandur to Koyambedu was driven by A Preethi, who realised her dream of becoming a loco pilot. According to sources, the minimum fare for the metro service may be Rs. 10 and the maximum Rs. 40 for this 10 kilometre journey with the ride expected to take less than 20 minutes.
According to officials, nine trains will be used for initial operations between Koyambedu and Alandur which will have seven stations including the origin and the destination. To be operated between 5-6 am and 11 pm, the trains would run approximately every 10 minutes. The trains will stop for 30 seconds at each station.
The Rs 14,600-crore project was approved by the previous Congress-led UPA regime in 2009 and the work began later that year. Last year, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu had said the Centre had approved an extension of a nine-km stretch upto Thiruvottiyur from Washermenpet under phase-I of the project in North Chennai.
Launch of Chennai Metro Rail between Koyambedu and Alandur was scheduled to be operational by October last year. However, it did not happen.
