The CMDA has plans for the commercial development of 18 stations as part of the merger, to be coordinated by Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA).
What’s it about? The first stage of the planned merger will involve commercially developing all 18 MRTS stations and the surrounding 500-metre radius area. Operation and maintenance will be handled by the Indian Railways. The Southern Railway agreed in-principle to hand over MRTS to the Metro. 18 years ago, a blueprint was prepared to develop commercial spaces at 9 stations, but the plan never went ahead.
- The stations and the space around them will be developed along with office spaces and business centres. The CUMTA is studying the real estate potential of the stations.
- Many of the stations are in remote locations. Officials want to develop these areas and the environment around them. The project will take 2 years to finish.