A metro line from Thiruvanmiyur to Kottivakkam and beyond, along East Coast Road (ECR), was proposed by the Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) in a recently held steering committee meeting of the Department of Highways and Minor Ports.
This link was suggested when the final feasibility report of the elevated road from Light House to Kottivakkam was reviewed. However, the committee decided to defer it for the present and take it up later.
This metro line along ECR, however, was not identified by the Comprehensive Transportation Study conducted by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) in Feburay 2010. The two metro lines proposed by the Comprehensive Transportation Study were from Medavakaam to St.Thomas Mount and Madhavaram to Light House through Radhakrishnan Salai. Apart from this, Monorail/LRT routes were also recommended from Pallavaram to Koyambedu, Ambattur to Kilpauk, Porur to Madhavaram and Sriperumbudur to Anna Flyover.
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When contacted, T.V. Somanathan, Managing Director, CMRL, said that there is no concrete proposal for a new line as of now.
“The suggestion made must be taken as a point for consideration while planning new transport corridor such as the elevated expressway,” he said. The construction of two Metro Rail corridors running to a total length of 45.1 km is under construction since 2009. One of the corridors is aligned between Washermenpet and the Chennai Airport and the other alignment is between the Chennai Central station and St.Thomas Mount. The two metro corridors are expected to be completed in 2015.