With an aim to reduce traffic congestion in several areas connected through Arcot Road in the State capital, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to extend the Chennai Metro Rail line from the Lighthouse near Marina Beach to Poonamallee in the city outskirts at an additional cost of ₹3,850 crore.
In a suo motu statement in the State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said the proposed extension from Lighthouse to Poonamallee through Vadapalani and Porur was aimed at easing traffic congestion in Virugambakkam and Valasaravakkam areas on Arcot Road.
“Chennai Metro Rail Limited would prepare a supplementary Detailed Project Report. An additional cost of ₹3,850 crore would be incurred for this extension,” he said.
It may be recalled that in Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail Project, three corridors — Madhavaram-Siruseri, Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT)-Lighthouse and Madhavaram-Sholinganallur — have been planned at a total estimated cost of ₹85,047 crore. The proposals have been sent to the Centre for approval and necessary funds.
Earlier, the corridor from CMBT to Light House covered a distance of about 17 km. After a lot of discussions, the alignment was changed to facilitate more commuters. In the changed route, this corridor will run from Light House to Poonamallee Bus Depot criss-crossing areas including Ramachandra Nagar, Kattupakkam, Kumananchavadi and terminating at Poonamallee Bus Depot.
Due to change in the alignment, the two corridors —Madhavaram to Sholinganallur and Light House to Poonamallee — will intersect at Alwarthirunagar.
Officials said, the number of passengers travelling per kilometre goes up significantly with this change. “There will be an increase of about 19% in the number of people taking the Chennai Metro Rail system,” an official said. By 2045, the number of people travelling by the Chennai Metro Rail would touch nearly 39 lakh.
Metro for Coimbatore
The Chief Minister also announced a metro rail project for reducing the traffic congestion in Coimbatore, the hub of several industries in western Tamil Nadu. “Chennai Metro Rail Limited would undertake a Detailed Feasibility Report/Detailed Project Report over this proposal. Funds from KfW of Germany would be obtained through the Central government,” he added.
