The Asian Development Bank (ADB), with the Government of India (GoI), signed a $350-million loan, building new lines and improving the connectivity of the metro rail system in Chennai, besides the city’s present public transportation.

Rajat Kumar Mishra, Ministry of Finance, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, and Nilaya Mitash, Officer-in-Charge, ADB, India Resident Mission, contracted the agreement of the tranche one loan amid Chennai Metro Rail Investment Project. The tranche one loan is part of the $780 million Multi-Tranche Financing Facility (MFF) permitted by ADB on 8th December 2022, developing three new metro lines.

After signing the loan, Mishra stated the project would connect Chennai’s central areas to main destinations in the city’s southwest, integrating the metro system with an existing bus. The investment project chains the development of three new metro lines, i.e., 3, 4, and 5.
Line 3 will construct 10.1 km of the raised section between Sholinganallur to State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu-2, counting nine metro stations with system components.

For line 4, it will construct 10 km of the underground section between Lighthouse and Meenakshi College with nine stations.

Line 5 has 31 km of system components, like electrical, mechanical, power, and telecommunication infrastructure, from Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus to Okkiyam Thoraipakkam.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the stations would combine disaster- and climate-resilient structures, responsive to the needs of the elderly, women, children, differently-abled, and transgender people. In addition, the multimodal exchanges and facilities would be conventional along metro rail corridors to improve travellers’ skills, such as drop-off and pick-up areas, protected waiting areas, bicycle facilities, and inside information.
Besides, an extra $1 million ADB Technical Assistance (TA) funding will help the Chennai Metro Rail Limited planning and administration of the metro system’s multimodal incorporation.