Roads near Chennai Metro Rail stations to be laid soon

Stations such as the one in Koyambedu are likely to be operational in a few months. Photo: M. Vedhan

The Chennai Corporation will soon begin road-laying work in the vicinity of Metro Rail stations on the stretch between Koyambedu and St. Thomas Mount. The stations on this stretch are likely to be operational in a few months.

The Chennai Metro Rail project has 36 stations on two corridors – Washermenpet to Airport and Chennai Central to St. Thomas Mount.

The civic body has invited bids for specially-designed bitumen roads near stations in Arumbakkam, Vadapalani, Alandur, St. Thomas Mount, SIDCO Nagar, Ashok Nagar, CMBT and Koyambedu at an estimated cost of Rs.26 crore. The Corporation will also improve civic infrastructure in these neighbourhoods.

The existing layer of damaged roads will be subjected to milling for 40 mm, and 60 mm of dense bitumen macadam with a 40 mm layer of bitumen concrete that has plastic content will be created on these stretches. These specially-designed roads are expected to handle high-density traffic near Metro stations.

Work in the next phase of this project will cover infrastructure such as bus shelters, parking lots, streetlights, signboards, street furniture and stormwater drains near the stations.

Officials of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority have also recommended improvements to civic infrastructure to improve the utility of the Metro Rail network.The lack of infrastructure near the existing MRTS and suburban rail network continues to be a hindrance to ridership, said a traffic planner at CMDA.