Skywalks will soon come up near three Chennai Metro Rail stations, to facilitate easy access to stations for pedestrians.
While Ashok Nagar and Koyambedu Metro Rail stations will have one skywalk each, the Guindy Metro Rail station will have two, according to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL).
Two skywalks, one near Guindy Industrial Estate and the other near Race Course Road, will provide access to Guindy Metro station. A skywalk will also link Rohini theatre with Koyambedu station, and another will connect Udayam theatre with Ashok Nagar station.
“Since these three stations are tucked away from the roads, commuters will find it difficult to cross these busy roads and reach the stations; hence this plan. But we decided to drop the skywalks near Chennai Central station owing to some issues,” an official of CMRL said.
After conducting studies to spruce up facilities in and around the stations, it was decided these three stations would have skywalks, he said. “Within 500 metres of every station, we want to provide facilities that will encourage commuters to walk up to the Metro Rail stations,” the official added.
Work on constructing the skywalks has already started at Koyambedu, and it would soon begin in Ashok Nagar and Guindy stations. Sources say there are also plans to have subways in some stations along Poonamallee High Road.
Meanwhile, construction work is fast progressing on the 10 km-stretch between Koyambedu and Alandur, which is set to be commissioned in about two months.