| Chennai Monorail | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Native name | சென்னை மோனோரெயில் |
| Locale | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Transit type | straddle-beam Monorail |
| Number of lines | 3 (Phase I) |
| Headquarters | Chennai |
| Operation | |
| Operation will start | 2018 (Estd. But later plan was cancelled and Chennai metro was constructed) |
| Train length | 4 coaches |
| Headway | 3 minutes |
| Technical | |
| System length | 57 km (Phase I) |
| Electrification | 750 V DC |
| Average speed | 65 km/h (40 mph) |
| Top speed | 80 km/h (50 mph) |
Chennai Monorail was a proposal for a number of lines as part of mass transit system for the Indian city of Chennai. Originally the city planned to use monorail on all lines but many were subsequently changed to railways as part of the Chennai Metro.
In 2006 a system was proposed in the Long-term Urban Transportation Scheme of Second Master Plan by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). The state government announced plans to introduce monorail across the city to reduce traffic congestion and to increase the share of public transport in the urban transport network. The aim is to increase the share of public transport in Chennai from 27% to 46% by 2026.[1]
The first tender was requested in 2011 but conditions were watered down several times. Tenders have lapsed thrice after failing to attract bidders. In the 2014 plan there were three remaining monorail corridors. As of January 2015, only two bidders remain after the Request For Qualification process of the ongoing bidding attempt.[2]
In 2018 the first corridor using monorail was approved by the government.[3] However, in 2020 one line originally designated at a monorail was converted to railway and let to tender by Chennai Metro.[4] In 2020 the Chennai Metro sought tenders for the Porur to Poonamallee line to be built as a railway metro.[5]