It was rush hour in the city’s basement as people thronged the seven stations along the Metro’s first underground stretch that became operational on Sunday.
The commuters were delighted to experience an engineering marvel in their city five years after workers from China, South Africa, Russia and Austria arrived to work on the Metro’s underground tunnels.
Throughout the day, the trains zipped through the tunnel between Thirumangalam and Nehru Park covering a distance of 7.6 km.
Already, two elevated stretches are operational. With the opening of the underground stretch, 27.5 km in the first phase has become a reality.
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, along with Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu, flagged off the first service and took a ride from Thirumangalam to Nehru Park accompanied by his cabinet colleagues. The Metro authorities allowed free ride to commuters on the stretch till 2 p.m. in the day.
Extension plans
“This underground stretch will be extended till Chennai Central by the year-end itself. Of the 36.4 km to be tunnelled, 34.3 km has been completed already. By mid-2018, the Metro’s 45 km Phase 1 will be made operational,” the Chief Minister announced.
The Detailed Project Report for Phase II has already been sent to the Centre for approval, he said.
In Phase II covering 107.55 km will pass through many parts of the city with the corridors connecting Madhavaram to Siruseri; CMBT to Light House and Madhavaram to Sholinganallur.
