The State government has decided to restructure the Chennai Monorail project to attract potential developers for implementation under public-private partnership.

Transport Minister V. Senthil Balaji told the Assembly on Wednesday that the project would be restructured for a length of 43.48 kilometres, consisting of two corridors, to attract private bidders.

The first line will run to 20.68 km from Poonamallee to Kathipara. This will have a link from Vadapalani to Porur. The second line will link Vandalur near Tambaram to Velachery, crisscrossing 22.80 km.

The monorail has been in the news for years. The AIADMK government, in its previous tenure, had announced its intention to launch the project.

After the party returned to power in 2011, the project got a fresh lease of life with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa keen on going ahead with its implementation. Early this year, the routes were realigned. The government is also keen on introducing a monorail in Coimbatore.

According to a Transport Department policy note, the selection of a consultant for carrying out a feasibility study is under way.

Smart travel cards — prepaid tickets that can be topped up — will be introduced for passenger comfort. The system will be first introduced in Chennai, for which the bidding is on.