Mono Rail is not a solution for Chennai. The State Government should instead concentrate on developing the Metro Rail, said Mr E. Sreedharan, former managing director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

With over 6 million people living in the city, Mono Rail will be totally inadequate. Mono Rail should be used as a feeder service to feed the Metro, which should put up in the main traffic corridors, he told newspersons.

“I am very disappointed that Tamil Nadu is thinking of Mono Rail instead of taking up phase II and III expansion of the Metro. Mono Rail is not suitable for this size and population,” he said.

The capacity of a Mono Rail is one third of a normal Metro, and its cost of operations is nearly 50 per cent more than a Metro. In Mumbai for instance, it costs Rs 175 crore per km to put up a Mono Rail. This is almost equal to putting up a Metro. In Kuala Lumpur, Mono Rail was not a success. In Japan too, it is being used as in smaller cities, he said.

Mr Sreedharan was happy with the progress being made in putting up metros at Chennai and Bengaluru. They are progressing well, and will be similar to that of Delhi, he said.

Nicknamed the Metro Man, Mr Sreedharan was in the city to receive ‘For the Sake of Honour Award from the Rotary Club of Madras. He is now the principal advisor to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and has taken over the responsibilities of Kochi Metro.

Punctuality

In his speech, Mr Sreedharan said every day the Delhi Metro runs 3,000 trains. A train is punctual if it is not delayed by more than 60 seconds to arrive in a station. Last year, the punctuality rate was 99.75 per cent, he said.

>raja@thehindu.co.in

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW