Chennai Metro Rail is speeding up laying of tracks from Thirumangalam to Nehru Park, the first underground network in the city.
Officials said work had been completed between Thirumangalam and Pachaiyappa’s College stations, about 5 km apart, on the upward and downward lines.
The total distance between Thirumangalam and Nehru Park is about 7 km.
“We plan to complete it in three months after which electrical and signalling work will begin. We have carried out trials on a few occasions on this stretch,” an official said.
Now, laying of tracks towards the Kilpauk Medical College station has begun.
The track work began in March last year, but rain and other factors delayed it.
Work is on to install platform screen doors at Thirumangalam and Anna Nagar Tower and East stations.
Underground stations will have such doors to prevent passengers from entering the tracks.
The doors are positioned in such a way that they will open alongside the carriage doors when trains arrive.
The Rs. 14,600-crore Metro will have 24 km of underground and 21 km of elevated network.
The first service was opened between Koyambedu and Alandur, an elevated stretch, in June last year.
In two months, the next stretch from Little Mount to the Chennai airport will be opened.
