Tamil NaduTuesday, 16 June 2026·Hindu Tamil Thisai
Chennai MRTS to be merged with Metro: Railway Board approval likely by July 2026
Railway Board is expected to approve the transfer of Chennai’s 24-km MRTS corridor to Metro Rail by the end of July 2026.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In June 2026, the Railway Board is expected to approve the transfer of Chennai’s 24-km Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) corridor, operated under Southern Railway since 1997, to Chennai Metro Rail by the end of July 2026.
Key specifics
- The MRTS corridor in Chennai has been under Southern Railway control since 1997.
- The Beach–Velachery section covers 19 km, and the Velachery–St. Thomas Mount extension became operational on March 15.
- The full corridor now runs 24 km, with more than 90,000 passengers using the electric trains daily.
- The Railway Board gave in-principle approval on July 31, 2025, and the next step is a Memorandum of Understanding.
- The project cost is estimated at about ₹4,500 crore, and the State government is exploring funding options before signing the MoU.
Exam lens
Question type: Tamil Nadu governance and transport infrastructure, MRTS, Chennai Metro Rail, 24 km, ₹4,500 crore, July 2026. TNPSC may ask which corridor is being transferred and what the next administrative step is.