NEW DELHI: Speculation has been doing the rounds that NDTV might bring the shutter down on its city centric news channel MetroNation, which is currently operational in Delhi. However, the media company has cleared the air saying, that there is no question of a shutdown, rather it will go ahead with its planned launch of its MetroNation Chennai though a date has not been fixed yet.

Speaking to indiantelevision.com NDTV MetroNation CEO Rajiv Lulla said, "We know there are lots of rumours doing the rounds with regards to MetroNation, but we are not going to close down the channel. Also our plan to launch the channel in Chennai is very much in progress. We have already hired about 90 people down south. However, we have not fixed the date for launching the channel yet."

NDTV has partnered with Kasturi & Sons Ltd, publisher of The Hindu to launch MetroNation Chennai.

Kastrui & Sons managing director N. Murali added, "We will definitely launch the channel, but we are yet to decide the timing."

Earlier in August, 2008, Lulla had told indiantelevision.com that the NDTV Group will roll out the channel in Chennai by October-end followed by the launch of MetroNation Mumbai by end fiscal 2008-09.

And while, NDTV Group is rationalising costs, the media company has not handed pink slips to its MetroNation employees in and continues to produce programming. Explained Lulla: "At this time of recession like every other company, we are also trying to control our costs as best as we can. But we have not cut any jobs as of now. Also the channel has fresh content on air till date."

MetroNation Delhi has about 165 employees at the moment.