E. Sreedharan, the principal adviser, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has said that the government of Tamil Nadu should not have dropped plans to expand the metro network in Chennai city and connect more areas with underground system.

According to Sreedharan, the state government is making a serious error by dropping phase-II expansion of the Chennai Metro Rail network. He also said that he has written to the Chief Secretary over three months ago but has not received any reply from the government yet.

He also said that he was disappointment on the government’s decision to abandon the expansion. He noted that the network officials in the city have carried out their work in a professional way.

“They want its expansion, for they recognise the value in it. But the government is being very rigid. I have not thought about that so far, but maybe I could take it up. The state government should think in advance. If the expansion of metro rail has to materialise, it should undertake relevant studies now,” he said. Only about 45 km of track will be build in the city as per the current proposal compared to New Delhi's metro rail system, covers 65 km in its first phase and124.63 km in its second phase.

Mr. Sreedharan was in the city to receive receive an award from the Rotary Club of Madras.