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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.
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A view of the Thirumangalam Metro Station. The underground stretch will cover a distance of 7.6-km from Thirumangalam to Nehru Park.
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The underground stations will be equipped with a special feature called ‘platform screen doors’, which would prevent commuters from accessing the tracks.
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Unlike the elevate corridors, the underground stations are fully air-conditioned. A temperature of 29°C is maintained at the tunnels.
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Chennai Metro Rail conducted a drill recently to check the preparedness in case of emergency.
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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.
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The tickets to access Metro will be in the form of smart cards, which can be recharged in the multiples of ₹ 100.
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The maximum fare for Metro travel will be ₹60. The CMRL is offering 10% discount to attract commuters.
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The control room at the Thirumangalam station. The security is managed by Chennai Police, while private security guards oversee baggage screening.