This loan is a key component of the Chennai Metro Rail Phase 2 expansion project in Tamil Nadu, aiming to improve urban mobility and advance the city’s low-carbon development goals.
1. Project Overview
| Feature | Detail |
| Lending Agency | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Loan Amount | $240 Million |
| Loan Tranche | Second Tranche of a $780 million Multitranche Financing Facility (MFF) for the Chennai Metro Rail Investment Project. |
| MFF Approval Year | 2022 |
| First Tranche Amount | $350 Million |
| Target Completion | Mid-2028 for construction under this tranche. |
2. Scope of Work (Phase 2 Expansion)
The funding supports key sections of the Chennai Metro Phase 2 project.
- Corridor Coverage: Will support approximately 20 kilometres of elevated and underground corridors.
- New Stations: Construction of 18 new stations.
- Targeted Lines:
- Line 3 (Purple Line): Civil and system works for the elevated section (Sholinganallur–SIPCOT-2).
- Line 4 (Orange Line): Civil and system works for the underground section (Lighthouse–Kodambakkam).
- Line 5 (Red Line): Key system components including power, traction, and telecommunications.
3. Key Project Objectives and Features
- Improved Urban Transport: Provide cleaner, safer, faster, and more reliable daily travel across the Chennai Metropolitan Area.
- Disaster Resilience: Incorporate disaster-resilient infrastructure to ensure safety and service continuity during extreme weather events.
- Universal Access: All new stations will feature universal access designs (elevators, tactile paving, barrier-free entry) for persons with disabilities and the elderly.
- Multimodal Integration: Upgrade multimodal interchange areas for smoother transfers between the metro, buses, bicycles, and other last-mile transport options.
- Inclusion & Safety: Enhance station safety, particularly for women and vulnerable users, through better lighting and surveillance systems.
- Financial Sustainability: Support measures to boost non-fare revenues (e.g., transit-oriented development) for the metro system’s long-term financial health.
- Environmental Goal: Advance the city’s low-carbon development goals by reducing reliance on private, fossil-fuel-based transport.
