A special committee has been formed for the handing over of MRTS system to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Responding to a query by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on why there is a delay in transfer of MRTS services and infrastructure to CMRL, Mr Vaishnaw said, a meeting was organised between Railway and Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) and a special committee with officers from Tamil Nadu government and Railways has been formed.

To her question on when this transfer of MRTS network to CMRL will be completed, Mr Vaishnaw stated that a timeline cannot be given now. “The committee has prepared the broad framework for preparing a detailed MoU. Merger is a complex process involving issues of train operation, maintenance of assets and safety and timeline cannot be stated at this stage,” he said.

After the Tamil Nadu government and Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) requested, a study was done for the takeover process and the final report was ready and submitted in February 2018.

“During a meeting held on the issue with the officials of GoTN, CMRL & MoHUA, it was decided that the proposed take over of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), Chennai by CMRL can only start after completion of construction of 4th line between Chennai Beach and Chennai Egmore (4 Km),” he said.

Mr Vaishnaw said, when MRTS is handed over to the State government, there may be “better synergy amongst various modes of transport” in the city and such an integration will help commuters.

The Hindu first reported a few weeks ago that following a direction from the Prime Minister’s Office, this project now stands in the final stage of approval with the Railway Board.