Date:20/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122058071000.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Centre to clear metro rail project soon

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Union Cabinet will clear the Chennai Metro Rail project and the Nemmeli water desalination plant within the next two weeks, said Union Minister for Urban Development S.Jaipal Reddy here on Friday.

Addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) conference on ‘Urbanisation – Providing Affordable Housing to All,’ he said foundation stone for these projects would be laid within a month or two.

The cost of the 46-km Chennai Metro Rail project has been estimated at Rs.14,600 crore. The Japan International Co-operation Agency will finance 60 per cent of the project with the rest being shared by State and Central governments. The project was earlier cleared by the Projects Implementation Board of the Centre.

On the Nemmeli water desalination plant, the Minister said that the Centre would provide Rs.870 crore for the Rs.900-crore project. The plant aimed at providing 100 mld of drinking water from seawater every day.