The first underground stretch of the Chennai Metro Rail will be inaugurated on May 14, 2017, in presence of Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu.
A view of the Thirumangalam Metro Station. The underground stretch will cover a distance of 7.6-km from Thirumangalam to Nehru Park.
The underground stations will be equipped with a special feature called ‘platform screen doors’, which would prevent commuters from accessing the tracks.
Unlike the elevate corridors, the underground stations are fully air-conditioned. A temperature of 29°C is maintained at the tunnels.
Chennai Metro Rail conducted a drill recently to check the preparedness in case of emergency.
A ramp beyond Thirumangalam station connects it with the elevated Koyambedu- Alandur stretch. A person commuting from Nehru Park to Airport will enjoy both underground and elevated travel in one go.
The tickets to access Metro will be in the form of smart cards, which can be recharged in the multiples of ₹ 100.
The maximum fare for Metro travel will be ₹60. The CMRL is offering 10% discount to attract commuters.
The control room at the Thirumangalam station. The security is managed by Chennai Police, while private security guards oversee baggage screening.