Chennai: Better lighting, additional security personnel and improved housekeeping could be among the first changes passengers can expect at the city’s 20 Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) train stations between Beach and St Thomas Mount by early 2027. Tamil Nadu govt is preparing to take over the system assets from Southern Railway, with the transfer agreement expected to be signed by Nov-end.An official from Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (Cumta) said Southern Railway was expected to submit the valuation of land, buildings and other assets next week. “Once they communicate the figures, it will be discussed at the higher level. The state govt will then sign the MoU,” the official said. “The first change we would make is to improve security, lighting and housekeeping.”A 90-day transition period will begin after the MoU is signed. More than 133ha of land and assets, including stations, tracks, viaducts, signalling, telecom systems and overhead electrification, will be transferred. Under a separate MoU, the state will hand over the system to Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL), which will deploy staff for security, ticketing, cleaning and housekeeping. Lifts and escalators will be restored progressively, with procurement and installation taking about a year.Southern Railway will continue operating and maintaining trains for 24 months, as procuring new coaches could take about two years. Revenue arrangements will continue under the transition terms. “Public should not expect all facilities to improve from day one. In a year, passengers can expect visible results. In three years, we can expect metro station standards at MRTS stations,” the official said.The planned upgrades come amid safety concerns following the death of 55-year-old V Vijaya. Her body was found in a disused room at Thirumayilai MRTS station four days after she went missing on Oct 8. Police suspect she fell through an opening while looking for a toilet.In Aug, Ministry of Railways approved the MoU between Southern Railway and Tamil Nadu govt for the asset transfer, advancing a merger proposal first made in 2011. Cumta is also coordinating the separate agreement for the system’s eventual handover to CMRL. MRTS began operations in 1995 and is to be integrated with Chennai’s wider public transport network.
