The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has written to the Highways Department seeking permission to close one side of the pedestrian subway at DMS in Teynampet on Anna Salai.
Sources in the Department, which owns the subway, said that permission was sought to modify the facility to provide access to the Metro station that is to come up near the DMS bus stop. The subway will remain operational for use by pedestrians as only one set of stairs is to be closed.
CMRL sources said this will be done owing to the tunnelling work being carried out in the area. At present, two tunnel boring machines are drilling the earth from Gemini to Accountant General-Directorate of Medical Services (AG-DMS) offices bus stops. The machines are likely to reach AG-DMS in about a month and a half.
“A foot-over-bridge with escalator may be installed as a replacement” an official said.
This is not the first time that a subway is being closed for Chennai Metro Rail underground work. A few weeks ago in Korukkupet, a subway was closed. Similarly, another subway was closed near Chennai Central station a few years ago, but it was reopened last month. “The subway is yet to be handed over the Department,” said an official source.
A subway near Teachers Training College in Saidapet has been permanently closed since it came in the way of the alignment.
