The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been contracted by the Tamil Nadu government to prepare a detailed project for a metro rail system in Chennai (formerly Madras). The report, to be prepared at a cost of Rs33 million, will be completed in six months. A feasibility study was carried out by the DMRC, which recommended developing the Chennai metro along three corridors. Corridors I and II would be taken up in the first phase. The third corridor would come up later in the second phase. The first corridor will cover 31.54 km from Tiruvottiyur in the north to the airport along the arterial Anna Salai. Of this, about 8.4 km could be underground and the rest will be on elevated track. The second corridor will cover 13.54 km from Chennai Beach to Koyambedu, along EVR Periyar Salai. The third corridor will span 21.68 km from Tiruvanmiyur to Lattice Bridge Road, Ramakrishna Mutt Road, Luz Church Road, Theagaraya Road, Inner Ring Road and Ambattur Industrial Estate. The first phase of the Chennai project is estimated to cost Rs50.8 billion. It would be implemented between 2005 and 2010. Visit www.delhimetrorail.com 16/05.