The eagerly awaited CMRL project will make Chennai stand alongside Kolkata, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Jaipur to have metro connectivity.
1:25 pm: Route map inside the train showing the next station. Photo: Sunitha Sekar.
1.22 pm: Announcements on the next train at Koyambedu railway station.
Announcements on next train >#Koyambedu Metro Rail station >@ChennaiConnect>@TheHindu>pic.twitter.com/JClfZ1wEvR
— Sunitha Sekar (@SunithaSekar) >June 29, 20151:10 pm: Here is the hepline number for Chennai Metro Rail - 18604251515
1:00 pm: Announcements inside coaches; First class and ladies compartment at Chennai Metro Rail, reports Sunitha Sekar from inside the new metro train.
12:50 pm: Enthused passengers line up to catch the first metro ride.
Packed coaches! Second trip of Chennai Metro Rail service from Alandur to Koyambedu >@ChennaiConnect>#ChennaiMetro>pic.twitter.com/NVPf2FFkXz
— Sunitha Sekar (@SunithaSekar) >June 29, 201512:30 pm: The 'Mind the gap' cross line at the Alandur Railway station platform. Photo: K.V.Srinivasan.
12:20 pm: As Chennai joins the metro bandwagon, here's a snapshot into the amenities of the much-awaited service: Passenger capacity of each train: 1,200; Average speed of train: 35 kmph; Maximum operating speed: 80 km/hour; Duration of halt in each station: 30 seconds
| 1 | AThe trains run on a fixed time table everyday. The timetable is prepared the previous day factoring in frequency, peak and non-peak hour etc. An announcement system is in place to inform passengers of an incoming train. |
| 2 | In case of an emergency, a passenger can get in touch with train operator. He communicates with the operation control centres who in turn intimate it to the next station controller to deboard the passenger. |
| 3 | Operation Control Centre (OCC) is the nerve centre where all trains of Chennai Metro Rail will be monitored. |
| 4 | Currently, there are seven people in OCC including chief controller and traffic controllers. |
| 5 | If the driver falls ill during train operation, the train automatically applies emergency brake and stops. |
| 6 | If there is a problem at the OCC, the control is transferred to backup stations like Ashok Nagar and Koyambedu. |
| 7 | The trains are currently tested on both manual and automatic mode. |
| 8 | Chennai Metro Rail trains are equipped to run without train operators. But for a while, they will run with train operators. |
12:10 pm: CM Jayalalithaa inaugurates Chennai Metro Rail service from Alandur. The train will take 15 minutes to reach Koyambedu.
The first metro train chugs along the Alandur railway station after Ms. Jayalalithaa inagurated the service. Photo: K.V.Srinivasan.
11:55 am: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to inaugurate first service of Chennai metro soon.
11:45 am: In a bid to make the metro disabled-friendly, physically-challenged persons can request for longer duration of train stoppage by pressing a long-stop button. An area has been assigned for two wheelchairs on both ends of each train.
The elevators at the Alandur railway station. Photo: K.V.Srinivasan
11:40 am: All metro stations will have Automatic fare collection and smart card system. Two CCTV cameras will monitor entry and exit of all passengers.
Commuters swiping travel cards to enter station >@ChennaiConnect>@TheHindu>#ChennaiMetro>pic.twitter.com/9gOYZAUlk7
— Sunitha Sekar (@SunithaSekar) >June 29, 2015 Chennai Metro Rail issues travel cards to journalists for first trip! >@ChennaiConnect>@TheHindu>#ChennaiMetro>pic.twitter.com/GVoLHwHjyf
— Sunitha Sekar (@SunithaSekar) >June 29, 201511:36 am: Baggage screening at Chennai Metro Rail Alandur station
11:35 am: Long queues at Chennai Metro Rail station ticket counters, reports Sunitha Sekar.
11:30 am: Here is an > exclusive peek into all the behind-the-scenes action at CMRL ahead of the big launch.
11:27 am: Trains of Chennai Metro will be, by and large, similar to those of Delhi Metro, but they will have a few distinct features, according to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL). > Read more
11:25 am: Here are a few tidbits you need to know about Chennai's metro:
* Two corridors - Washermenpet to Chennai Airport ; Chennai Central to St. Thomas Mount
* Service will be operational for 19 hours - from 5 am to midnight
*There will be a total of 32 stations (- 19 underground and 13 elevated)
11:20 am: This much awaited project will not only be a boon to commuters but also for the realty sector in Chennai. > Read more
11:10 am: Initially, there will be nine trains running between Koyambedu and Alandur with a frequency of about 10 minutes, officials said. The trains will halt for 30 seconds in each station.
A look at the fare chart:
11:05 am: The minimum fare may be Rs. 10 and the maximum Rs. 40 for this 10 kilometre stretch – with the ride expected to take less than 20 minutes.
11:00 am: Four years after work began, the first metro train will leave Alandur station for Koyambedu after Chief Minister Jayalalithaa inaugurates the project through a video conference, official sources said.
