The metro rail corridor between Chennai Airport Station and Little Mount Station was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in Chennai on Wednesday. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided loan for the project. "The opening of this newly constructed stretch of Chennai Metro will mitigate traffic congestion and air pollution and enhance ease of travel, so that local economic growth and quality of life can be significantly improved," JICA India, Chief Representative, Takema Sakamoto said.
The first loan agreement for the Chennai Metro Rail project was signed in November 2008 with amount of 21,751 million Japanese Yen, a statement from JICA said. In March 2016, JICA signed for the fourth loan agreement comprising 19,981 million Japanese Yen. Overall, JICA has extended concessional loans of 1,049,614 million Japanese Yen for development of metro systems in Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the statement added.
Others present on the occasion were Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Minister of State for Shipping and Roadways Pon Radhakrishnan.
