Centre approves Chennai monorail project

The BJP-led Central government has given its ´in-principle´ clearance, with certain conditions, for the first phase of Chennai Monorail Project (CMP). According to the Central government, monorail services will be provided between Poonamalle and Kathipara with a link from Porur to Vadapalani with a total length of 20.68 km. The total estimated outlay of the project is Rs 3,267 crore. As per the approval accorded last week, the project would be implemented under ´Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT)´ model with entire funding from the State government/State government agencies/ public-private-partner without any financial support from the Central government.