CHENNAI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has secured the operation and maintenance contract for Chennai Metro Rail Limited’s (CMRL) Phase II network. The contract, valued at Rs 5,870 crore, covers an extensive 118.9-km network spanning three key corridors: Madhavaram Milk Colony to Siruseri SIPCOT II, Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass, and Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur. Additionally, DMRC will oversee maintenance depots at Madhavaram, Poonamallee, and Semmancheri.
Chennai Metro Rail managing director MA Siddique told TNIE that Deutsche Bahn and DMRC participated in the tender process, with DMRC winning as the lowest bidder. “It is industry practice worldwide to outsource operations to specialised operators. In India, Hyderabad and Mumbai have already adopted this approach,” Siddique said.
The official Letter of Acceptance (LoA) was handed over on Tuesday by Siddique to DMRC managing director Dr Vikas Kumar. The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials, including S Krishnamoorthy, director (Finance) of CMRL, and Dr Amit Kumar Jain, director (Operations & Services) of DMRC.
Siddique noted the contract was awarded with the hope that Chennai’s metro network will expand to 400 km in the next 10 years, up from the current 54 km and the additional 116 km under Phase II. “CMRL is also tasked with developing metro rail networks in other cities across Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore, Madurai, Hosur, Salem, and Trichy. Long-term operation and maintenance contracts were tendered out so that CMRL can focus on metro expansion,” he said.
DMRC is widely recognised for its expertise in metro operations, having successfully developed an extensive metro network across the National Capital Region (NCR), including Delhi, New Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Greater Noida. This network spans 395.24 km with 289 stations. Beyond NCR, DMRC has extended its role to consultancy services and project implementation, including serving as the implementation agency for Mumbai Metro Line 2B.
Siddique said DMRC will hire most of its staff from Tamil Nadu, ensuring they have a working knowledge of Tamil, except for senior management positions. Additionally, labour-intensive roles, including housekeeping, security, and ticketing, will be managed under a cost-plus model, with Tamil proficiency being mandatory for these positions. “Most of the recruitment will take place in Tamil Nadu, primarily through colleges, ITIs, and polytechnics,” he added.
As part of the agreement, DMRC will be responsible for maintaining high service standards and efficient asset management across Chennai Metro’s Phase II network. The contract is initially set for 12 years from the Commercial Operation Date of the final stage of Phase II, with the possibility of a three-year extension based on performance. Notably, the existing Phase I of Chennai Metro continues to be operated and maintained by CMRL. “We will continue to do so to retain the capability to maintain and operate metro rail,” Siddique added.