Chennai's Airport To Kilambakkam Metro Link Faces Uncertain Future Amidst Funding Woes

The proposed airport to Kilambakkam Metro project in Chennai may be postponed indefinitely due to a lack of funding.

The 15.3-km Airport-Kilambakkam project is estimated to cost Rs 4,080 crore and will run through important locations in the southern suburbs.

The proposed route would pass through several key areas, including Pallavaram, Kothandam Nagar, Chromepet, Mahalakshmi Colony, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Tambaram, Irumbuliyur, Peerkankaranai, Perungalathur, Vandalur, Arignar Anna Zoo, and Kilambakkam Bus Terminus.

The Airport-Kilambakkam metro line will provide a major boost to connectivity to newly-emerging suburbs in the southern periphery of the city.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) submitted a detailed project report to the state government last year, outlining plans to extend the metro line from Chennai airport to Kilambakkam at an estimated cost of Rs 4,080 crore.

Aside from seeking loans from international banks, the state government has been the primary source of financial support for Phase II, making it financially challenging to initiate the Airport-Kilambakkam project.

Reason For Delays

For the past two years, the state government has been funding the Chennai Metro Rail Phase II project in the hope that it will eventually receive approval from the central government.

According to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) managing director M A Siddique, the project proposal is currently with the Union government for approval, as it is a central project.

In the meantime, the government of India has granted permission to the state government to proceed with the project. Once the CCEA gives its clearance, the state is expected to receive a matching equity contribution from the central government.

The state government has been the primary source of funding for Chennai Metro Rail's Phase II project, making it challenging to allocate resources to the Airport-Kilambakkam project, as mentioned by The Hindu report.

Even if the Airport-Kilambakkam project were to receive approval, it would still require land acquisition and subsequent construction, which would likely span several years before the project is completed, The Hindu report added.

The feasibility report for the Airport-Kilambakkam line was completed in 2019 by Larsen and Toubro Infrastructure Engineering. The preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) was delayed with CMRL submitting the DPR to the state government in early 2022.