India: Chennai Metro Rail Phase 2 Project – Balance Corridor 5

OBJECTIVE

To increase transport capacity and improve efficiency of northwest-south connectivity in the Chennai Metropolitan Area by expanding the Chennai metro system.

DESCRIPTION

The Project (Balance Corridor 5) spanning from Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminal (CMBT) to Okkiyam Thoraipakkam Metro Station, comprises the development of 24.04 kilometers with 23 elevated stations. The Project will be co-financed in parallel by AIIB and ADB, and by counterpart funding from the Government of Tamil Nadu (GoTN).

The project components to be financed by AIIB (AIIB-supported components) are:
Component 1. Construction of an elevated viaduct of 12.431 km length, between CMBT (excluded) and Ullagaram Metro Station, including special spans and construction of 12 elevated stations.

Component 2. Construction of an elevated viaduct of 11.61 km, between Ullagaram Metro Station (excluded) and Okkiyam Thoraipakkam Metro Station (excluded), including construction of 11 elevated stations.

The remaining components and their financing sources are as follows:
Component 3 by ADB. The electrical and mechanical works, traction, power supply and telecommunication.
Component 4 by GoTN. The general consultant, signaling, lift and escalators, permanent way, platform screen doors, and
others, including overall state tax and the cost of land acquisition.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION

Applicable Environmental and Social Policy. The Project will be governed by different ES policies, depending on which parallel co-financier is financing the project component. AIIB’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), including the Environment and Social Standards (ESSs) and the Environmental and Social Exclusion List will apply to the AIIB funded Components of the project. ESS 1 (Environmental and Social Assessment and Management) and ESS 2 (Involuntary Resettlement) of AIIB’s ESP are applicable to the project.

Categorization and Instruments. The components of the project have been screened and reviewed in accordance with the ESP and ESSs and they have been classified as Category A. The environmental and social (ES) documentation has been prepared following adoption of a harmonized approach among AIIB, ADB and the GoTN. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been prepared as part of CMRL’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) and has been updated in accordance with the requirements of the ESP. A Social Impact Assessment / Resettlement Plan (SIA/RP)

Project-level Grievance Redress Mechanism. A multi-tier Project-level Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) has been constituted for the Project in line with the requirements of the ESP. Communities and individuals who believe that they are adversely affected by the Project will be able to submit complaints to the project-level GRM for their resolution. In addition to the above GRM for addressing complaints from the local community, a GRM will be established at the contractor level for worker grievances.

Stakeholder Engagement, Consultation and Information Disclosure. Consultations has been conducted as part of the preparation of the EIA and SIA/RP. The consultations will continue during project implementation, in accordance with national guidelines on restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The English versions of EIA and SIA/RP and the Tamil version of the Executive Summaries of the EIA and SIA/RP will be posted on CMRL’s and AIIB’s websites and made available in hard copies in the Project area.