The Chennai Metro Rail's test run was flagged off by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at Koyambedu's metro rail depot on November 6. The Chennai Metro Rail will start commercial operations by July or August next year. The Metro rail test runs will go on for the next six to eight weeks.
The Centre and the Tamil Nadu governments are equal joint venture partners in the Chennai Metro Rail project, which is being implementing at Rs 14,600 crore. The Japan International Cooperation Agency has extended Rs 8,646 crore funding for the project.
In the city, the next stage of testing will be at the elevated section between Koyambedu and St Thomas Mount. This will be for three-four months, but this depends on how quickly the ramp at Koyambedu and the final leg of work near Alandur station is completed.