After the three-language signboards were removed from metro rail stations in Bengaluru, the Chennai metro rail authority has clarified that the three-language system will not be followed in the metro rail network in the city and Hindi will not be part of any of the signboards at the stations.
Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) official told The Times of India that they are not going to introduce three-language system at metro stations. The Chennai metro has been using Tamil and English languages on their signboards at stations and trains since its inauguration in 2015.
Despite CMRL using Tamil and English on its signboards, after online and offline campaigns against imposing Hindi in Bengaluru, there was apprehension among certain sections of commuters and others that Hindi will be introduced at Chennai metro stations also.
Kochi metro has been following three languages on all signboards and name boards. A Kochi metro official told TOI that it was mandatory to follow three-language system in metro stations according to the Official Languages Act. They added that they do not follow three languages while doing announcements due to time constraints.
In Bengaluru, last month, several Hindi language sign boards were vandalised. After campaigns by Kannada groups, metro officials started removing Hindi from the boards.
Many Kannada groups and even the Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah had objected to the three-language policy by the central government on metros that mandated the use of Hindi along with English and the local language.
The Urban Development Department's order, dated December 9, 2016, makes it compulsory for non-Hindi speaking states to use Hindi in Metro signs.
Chennai Metro rail is in the process of completing last stage of the phase-1 of the project and has started preliminary work on the stage-2, reported TOI.