[parurorges]

The traffic congestion in the city would soon be a thing of the past with chief minister Jayalalithaa showing keen interest in speeding up the 100-km Mono Rail project and also introduce it in Tiruchy, Madurai and Coimbatore.

Experts say that the Mono Rail will link most of Chennai and suburbs and will be a welcome addition to Metro Rail now under progress.

When completed, Chennai will have a four-tier train system comprising the old electrical multiple unit (EMU) linking Beach to Tambaram, mass rapid transit system (MRTS) from Beach to St Thomas Mount, Metro Rail between Washermanpet and airport and mono rail (routes yet to be finalised).

“The Mono Rail's advantages include safety, quicker project execution, low noise pollution and lower cost to consumer,“ said a senior government official.
“But it can carry less number of passengers when compared to the metro.“

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) in its second master plan had suggested that mono rail could be operated in two routes, Dams RoadRoyapettah-MylaporeAdyar-Guindy Halda junction and Lighthouse MRTS station-Anna flyover-Kilpauk-Perambur at a cost of `1,480 crore.

When the AIADMK government was in power in 2006 the Pallavan Transport Consultancy Services had also recommended a Mono Rail project.

DC Chennai