By the end of this year, the most important stretch of Chennai Metro linking Nehru Park and Chennai Central, and another stretch from Saidapet to AG-DMS are likely to be thrown open for the public. According to officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), trial runs have started on the stretch between Saidapet to AG-DMS and the track work is nearing completion between Nehru Park and Chennai Central. “Other works, such as electrification and signalling, are also in progress on both these stretches,” an official said. Chennai Central Metro Rail station, the largest underground station in the city, will connect two stretches — on the upper level, trains from Nehru Park will arrive and the lower will see trains coming in from Washermanpet. While the Nehru Park-Chennai Central stretch will become operational by the year-end, the Washermanpet-Chennai Central will be open only by mid-2018. The last stretch to be completed, from Government Estate to AG-DMS, will be opened for operations by December next year, he added. “The tunnelling may be over in another two months and after that, there is quite a lot of ancillary work,” he said.
