An area development strategy will soon be evolved to improve pedestrian facilities, road crossing points and other amenities such as public toilets within a 600-metre to one-km radius of influence of all 32 up and coming Metro Rail stations in the city.
Chennai Metro Rail Limited has identified non-governmental organisation Chennai City Connect as a consultant and is working in coordination with the NGO in order to improve access to Metro Rail stations.
The study would initially focus on developing the base plan of Vadapalani station into a model station.
Vadapalani is one of the 10 stations that have already been contracted out for construction.
“We are looking at how linkages around the stations have to evolve,” said K. Rajaraman, Managing Director of CMRL.
“Five to six components, including skywalks and pedestrian walk-throughs, that are essential for each station locality will be identified. An action plan would be evolved for implementation over the next 3-4 years,” he added.
A co-ordination committee that includes the CMDA and the Chennai Corporation has been formed to implement the plan.
Raj Cherubal, coordinator of Chennai City Connect, said that standards would be evolved on signage boards, pedestrian zones and their dimensions, and the location of bus bays in the vicinity.
According to him, the mandate is to develop guidelines that will ensure “footpaths are really good, drop-off points at the station are well designed and there are no bottlenecks on the way to the station.”
Mr.Cherubal said that for example, in case the station is on one side of the road due to land availability on that side, a template would be evolved on what amenities ought to be provided to make the station porous enough to access in a fast, convenient and safe manner.
Efforts would also be made to identify routes for a high frequency feeder arrangement that would operate within a 3-4 km zone from select stations.
