The ADB approved funding of $780 million to add new lines for Chennai metro rail and improve the network's connectivity with bus and feeder services.
The project will create 10.1 km of an elevated section between Sholinganallur and State Industries Promotion Corporation, including nine metro stations and system components, 10 km of the underground section between Lighthouse and Meenakshi College including 9 stations and 31 km of system components, such as electrical, mechanical, power and telecommunications infrastructure, between Mofussil Bus Terminus and Okkiyam Thoraipakkam. The stations will be climate resilient, disaster-resilient and responsive to the needs of the elderly, women, children, and the differently abled.
This project will expand Chennai's metro rail system to provide a safe and integrated transport solution that improves urban mobility and make the city more liveable, said Andri Heriawan, Senior Transport Specialist for South Asia. By fostering a shift to less greenhouse-gas emitting metro systems, it will benefit climate change mitigation and, through appropriate design elements, improve resilience to climate change. The India government and the India government signed a deal last year for $500 million to expand Bengaluru s metro by constructing two new lines of 56 km long. In India, $57.75 billion has been committed to 826 projects, of which 18.85 billion is for 188 transportation projects.
ADB committed a record $4.6 billion in loans to India in the year 2021. ADB committed $36.51 million in technical assistance and $3 million in grants under the portfolio. In addition to the regular program supporting urban development, transport, agriculture, finance, and skills building, the loans included assistance under the vaccine access facility.
ADB will give an additional $1 million technical assistance TA grant to Metro Rail to assist with the planning and management of the metro system's multimodal integration. The TA will support identification of first- and last-mile connectivity needs and explore opportunities for transit-oriented development to increase revenues through land value capture.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. It was founded in 1966 and has 68 members -- 49 from the region.