While metro rail work goes on in full swing in the city, monorail is fast catching up. A special team comprising officials from various wings of the transport department has been formed to decide upon the locations where monorail stations would come up.
The team, formed early this week, comprises a private consultancy, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and Pallavan Transport Consultancy Services. Apart from analysing the feasibility of the location, it will also study the possibility of integration of different transport modes.
“The stations should come up at places that are good crowd generation points. For example, they should be near places like malls, educational institutions, hospitals and cinema halls,” said a traffic expert.
“The locations under consideration must have sufficient space for accommodating a station. The accessibility to these stations should also be taken into consideration,” the expert said. “The roads leading up to the stations should be well lit and safe.”
The authorities are yet to identify a consultant for the monorail project. Around 10 companies had submitted Requests for Proposal (RFP) to the government.
Meanwhile, authorities have shortlisted project promoters out of eight consortia of firms. Some of the qualified firms are — Hitachi and Bombardier, L&T, Gammon and IL&FS. A committee, under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi, met about 10 days ago and zeroed in on the eligible consortia.
The government has identified four corridors — Vandalur to Velachery (23 km), Poonamallee to Kathipara Junction (16 km), Poonamalee to Vadapalani (18 km) and Vandalur to Puzhal (54 km). Initially, work will be taken up in the first three corridors at a cost of Rs. 8,500 crore. Work on the fourth corridor will be taken up later.
