CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu on Wednesday said it was pressing New Delhi and the Karnataka government to advance a proposed metro rail link connecting Hosur, in the state's Krishnagiri district, with Bommasandra on the outskirts of Bengaluru, as the new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam administration presented its first budget since taking office.
This comes as the detailed feasibility report for the cross-border line commissioned by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and cleared by the Tamil Nadu government, was in the advanced stages of completion. The report examines a route linking Hosur with the existing Bengaluru mass rapid transit network via Attibele.
The proposed corridor would run 23 km, with roughly 11 km falling within Tamil Nadu and the remaining 12 km in Karnataka.
The metro proposal forms part of a broader infrastructure push outlined in the budget. Finance Minister Marie Wilson said the initial stretch of Phase II of the Chennai Metro, running 14.64 km from Poonamallee Bypass to Porur Junction and linking to the existing Vadapalani station across 11 stops, was on track for imminent commissioning. It is learnt that the file is still with the Prime Minister's Office.
Three further metro corridors recommended by the state government remain under consideration in New Delhi, he added: a line from Chennai airport to Kilambakkam; a route connecting Koyambedu to Pattabiram via Avadi; and a corridor from Poonamallee to Sriperumbudur via Sunguvarchathiram.