Chennai, Feb 10 (Reporter) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite the approval of the Phase-II of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) Project: In a Demi-Official letter to Mr Modi, copies of which were released to the media here, Mr Stalin drew his attention to the inordinate delay in the approval for the Phase-II of the CMRL project and requested him to expedite the process. The Phase–I of CMRL Project has been successfully implemented as a 50:50 joint venture between the Union Government and the Tamil Nadu Government. "Based on its success, we have approved the Phase–II under the same model, having three more corridors covering 119 km, at a cost of Rs.63,246 crore", he said. Mr Stalin said the same was recommended to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), for approval during January 2019. With the recommendation of MoHUA and NITI Aayog, the funding approvals from JICA, ADB, AIIB and NDB have also been tied up. After this, Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid foundation stone for Phase-II of CMRL project on November 21, 2020, he recalled. The Chief Minister said "Our Government was eagerly awaiting the approval by Union Government after the announcement for counter-part funding for the project was made in the Union Budget for 2021-2022 and upon the project being recommended by the Public Investment Board (PIB) on August 17, 2021 as a Central Sector Project under equity sharing model." "But, unfortunately there has not been any progress since then, in spite of this issue being pressed by me during my various meetings with you", he said, adding, "I learn that the above proposal is awaiting the approval of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for more than two years now." "In anticipation of the Union Government's approval, we have commenced the works for Phase-II to ensure that the project is completed as per the timelines. We have been meeting the expenditure from state funds, due to the Union share being held up in the absence of CCEA approval", he added. This has slowed down the pace of works and has also placed a severe stress on state finances. This issue needs to be addressed immediately so that this dream project of the people of Chennai can be implemented within the targeted time. "I therefore, urge you to personally intervene in this matter and expedite the approval of the Phase-II of CMRL project under the 50:50 joint venture model, as was successfully done for Phase-I", Mr Stalin said...////...