Chennai Metro Rail Ltd has commissioned an audit of all cranes that are being operated for the Metro rail project.

This follows an accident on Wednesday night involving a crane that left one worker dead and six injured.

According to Chennai Metro Rail’s PRO, after the accident, the audit is being carried out at all the planned 32 stations. He denied that work has been completely stopped after the accident. It is only the crane operations that have been suspended till the audit is over in a couple of days, he said.

This is the first major accident in the Chennai Metro project, which was launched in September 2009.

Tentatively, phase-1 of the project, from Vadapalani to St Thomas Mount, is set for completion in the financial year 2014-2015. The work for these lines are in progress.

The Government of Tamil Nadu approved in principle the two initial corridors in November 2007. The Government of India approved the project in January 2009.

The estimated base cost of this project is about Rs 14,000 crore. Of this, the Central and State Governments together are expected to contribute about 41 per cent.

The balance will be met by a loan granted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

raja.simhan@thehindu.co.in