The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has completed its feasibility survey for Salem’s rapid transit system (metro rail project), proposing to implement the project on two routes, covering 40 kilometres.
The detailed feasibility report (DFR) will be submitted to the state government soon, the officials said.
Following the Union government’s announcement on metro rail projects in tier-2 cities, the Tamil Nadu government in 2021 announced that CMRL will conduct a feasibility study and prepare a DFR for Salem metro.
Subsequently, CMRL floated a tender for Salem metro’s feasibility study in 2022 and Aarvee Associates, a Hyderabad based company, won the bid for 38 crores.
“On August 14, CMRL officials informed the state government that Salem metro project will be implemented in two routes which will be covering 40 kilometres,” said a CMRL official.
He also said that since there are several flyovers in the city, site factors and land availability heavily influenced the fixing alignment of the routes. “However, the experts involved in the survey work said that the alignment should have no impact on existing structures,” the official added.
According to the field study, one route will be set up between Karuppur and Nalikkalpatty covering Mamangam, Salem railway junction, four roads, district collectorate, old bus stand, Gugai, Dasanaickenpatty areas while the other route will be set up between Ayothiyapattinam and Uthamacholapuram covering Maniyanur, Ammapet and Udayapatty areas. The official said that the DFR will be submitted to the state government after higher officials from the CMRL visit and inspect the proposed routes.
