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The expert team, which was formed to scout for monorail stations sites in the city, has completed its study.

The locations where the stations will come up will be decided at an empowered committee meeting scheduled to be held on Friday.

Besides, in order to focus on monorail and hasten the work, the government has transferred and posted V. Paulraj, the managing director of Metropolitan Transport Corporation Limited (MTC) as managing director of Pallavan Transport Consultancy Services (PTCS) a couple of days back.

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P.P. Rajendran, managing director of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Coimbatore), has replaced Mr. Paulraj.

The team comprising MTC, PTCS and a private consultancy was given a time period of ten days to study and come up with sites where monorail stations can come up.

“The team completed the study on time and have submitted a list of probable locations. The exact spots will be decided at an empowered committee meeting that is scheduled for Friday,” said an official.

The government's keenness on the monorail project is evident from the speed at which various measures are being taken up.

“There is a need for a person who can exclusively concentrate upon monorail. Hence, the managing director of MTC was transferred,” said an official.

The team, formed early this week, analysed the feasibility of the location to integrate different transport modes. Experts feel that stations should come up at places where a lot of people gather. “If they are not easily accessible, the mode will not be successful,” said an expert. Promoters out of eight consortia of firms have been shortlisted. Some of the qualified firms are Hitachi and Bombardier, L&T, Gammon and IL&FS.

A committee, under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi, met about 10 days ago and zeroed in on the eligible consortia. The government has identified four corridors — Vandalur to Velachery (23 km), Poonamalee to Kathipara Junction (16 km), Poonamalee to Vadapalani (18 km) and Vandalur to Puzhal (54 km). Initially, work will be taken up on the first three corridors at a cost of Rs.8,500 crore. Work on the fourth corridor will be taken up later.

Source: The Hindu