The Union Ministry of Railways has finally approved the proposal for merger of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) with the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) for which a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) has also been signed. In a circular issued by Railway Board, New Delhi, to the General Manager of Southern Railway dated August 12, 2026 the draft MoU signed between the Southern Railway and the Tamil Nadu government in May this year goes out to broadly outline the handing over of assets, and the operation and maintenance of MRTS suburban train services.

The draft MoU goes on to explain the construction of the MRTS project, which was initiated in the First Master Plan of 1975, and the operation of suburban train services from Beach to Velachery and later extended to St. Thomas Mount railway station, which was commissioned in March this year. The extended portion of the MRTS has two railway stations of Puzhithivakkam and Adambakkam with one station yet to be made operational.

A senior official of Southern Railway said the merger of the MRTS which was initiated through a proposal sent by the State government to the Chairman of Railway Board dated January 27, 2011, has finally come to fruition after several meetings .

Transition period

As per the draft MoU, the Southern Railway would be handing over the assets and general operations and maintenance, except the core train operations and maintenance part within 90 days. During the transition period of two years, the entire train operations would be handed over to the CMRL.

During the two-year transition period within which time the Tamil Nadu government would have to pay the agreed amount in full or party payments, the agreement specifies transfer of lands, infrastructure covering 19 of the 21 railway stations of lifts, escalators, foot over bridges, tracks, signalling and telecom systems and the rolling stock of electrical multiple units (EMUs).

With the MRTS having interface with the railway stations of the Chennai division at Beach, and Fort, it has been proposed to allocate two platforms of 9 and 10 at Beach for MRTS services and at Fort Station, construction of a crossing station by the State government for providing track crossovers. Between Fort and Beach, the MRTS has only one track against the normal provision of two tracks. In case the State government has plans to create a dual track, the Southern Railway would consider keeping in view the operational flexibility and applicable land management policy of the Ministry of Railways.

The Railway Board has formed a special committee of senior level officers from the Southern Railway and the State government with the CUMTA convenor being the coordinating officer of this committee.

Consumer activist T. Sadagopan, welcoming the move of the merger of MRTS with CMRL, said this would help in the operational efficiency of the train services but would also put a full stop to the demand for direct services from St. Thomas Mount railway station to Arakkonam and Gummiddipoondi. In the past, direct services were operated from Velachery to Arakkonam on the west section and Gummiddipoondi on the north section via Beach railway station.

Published - August 18, 2026 03:48 pm IST