DMK, Congress claim credit for Chennai Metro Rail

CHENNAI: A few hours after Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa inaugurated Chennai Metro Rail, DMK and Congress on Monday claimed credit for the project.
READ ALSO: Jayalalithaa launches Chennai Metro Rail, Chennaiites flock to enjoy first day first ride
In a statement DMK treasurer M K Stalin said that the inauguration of Chennai Metro “fills him with great joy.”
He demanded that the metro services be expanded to all regions of Chennai and other cities in the state, and integrate it with other modes of public transport -- like buses, sub-urban trains and MRTS.
"It was initiated by the DMK government to provide the city with a world class mass rapid transport system. The sanction of Rs 14,600 crore for the metro project was approved by the DMK cabinet on November 7," he said.
Stalin recalled his trip to Japan as the minister for local administration to seek a loan for the project.
He alleged that though the work on the project began in 2009, it had “unfortunately delayed extensively” due to petty politics.
Listing the benefits of rapid mass transport systems, the DMK ladear said decreasing commute times, improving air quality, reducing vehicular congestion and vehicular injuries and fatalities were some of the benefits. As cities expand, efficient and extensive rapid mass transport systems were essential, he added.
Quoting a former mayor of Bogota, the DMK leader said that an “advanced city is not one where the poor move about in cars [but] where even the rich use public transportation.” With the inauguration of the metro, Chennai is one step closer to that definition of an advanced city.

Passengers take selfies in Chennai Metro train on Monday (TOI photo by Ramesh Shankar)
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief E V K S Elangovan said that it was only due to the foresight of the previous UPA government at the Centre that that city has got a metro.
In a statement, Elangovan said as the Chennai population was on the rise, the then UPA government commissioned a project report and the state government sanctioned Rs 50 crore towards this.
Though Jayalalithaa has inaugurated the project through video conferencing, she had earlier opposed project and, instead, favoured a monorail system. "She had said technically monorail was more feasible than metro rail," said Elangovan.
“Though she announced monorail four years ago nothing has happened so far,” he added.
Elangovan said the Chennai Metro Rail fare was very high. “It is shocking,” he said.
In Delhi Metro, for a 17km trip from Adharsh Nagar to Yamuna River, only Rs 19 is collected.
"The fares will have to be reduced. If they are not reduced, the basic purpose of the project will not be served," he said.
READ ALSO: Chennai Metro Rail minimum fare fixed at Rs 10