The Chennai Metro Rail project is all set to be extended up to Tiruvottiyur in north Chennai. The extension, estimated to cost Rs.2,200 crore, will take Corridor-I of the Metro Rail (Chennai Airport-Washermenpet) a further nine km. Seven new Metro stations would come up in the extended stretch.
A draft detailed project report (DPR), prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), cited the extension to be “technically feasible” based on a traffic pattern study. Based on the report, a high-powered committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, has given an in principle approval. The final decision rests with the State Cabinet. The proposal will then move on to the Ministry of Urban Development, which is a funding partner.
Senior officials of the State government said that the project is definitely going through and only “the modalities of relocating the sewer lines, TNEB installations and water supply lines have to be worked out”.
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According to the DPR, the proposed alignment will have stations in Korukkupet, Tondiarpet, Toll Gate, Thangal, Gowri Ashram, Tiruvottiyur and Wimco Nagar.
The corridor runs up to Wimco Nagar, which is about half a kilometre from Tiruvottiyur, to provide a linkage with the Chennai Central – Gummidipoondi suburban section of the Southern Railway.
Integration is also planned at the proposed Toll Gate and the Tiruvottiyur Metro stations with the existing bus depots.
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A two-level station design has been proposed in both the elevated and underground sections. While one level will serve as the station platform, the open space available in the other level will be used to develop ‘traffic integration areas'.
The segment from Washermenpet to Korukkupet will be underground and beyond that the Metro will continue as an elevated corridor. Of the nine kilometres, 2.3 km will be underground and 6.6 km elevated.
The alignment, for the most part, runs along the median of Tiruvottiyur High Road.
Since the width of the road is as less as 11 metres at some locations and it has many sharp curves, there is going to be a “degree of land acquisition impact”, said an official.
The two Metro corridors, Corridor-I (Chennai Airport to Wimco Nagar via Chennai Central) and Corridor-II (St.Thomas Mount to Chennai Central), are expected to cater to 13 lakh commuters a day by 2026.