The Centre on Thursday said that construction work on the metro rail projects in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Kochi would commence within two years. Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, Union urban development minister Jaipal Reddy said: "The metro projects for Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Kochi are in different stages of approval. The government's effort is to expedite the process. We will be able to lay foundation stones and start working on these projects in two years timeframe.' Reddy said government was in favour of metro rail system to strengthen public transport facilities.