On the 11-km stretch between Koyambedu and St. Thomas Mount Metro stations, installation of elevators and escalators for the CMBT station and the Koyambedu depot has just begun.
Installation is on at these two places since, on this stretch, which will take off in the first quarter of 2014, only this station and depot have been structurally completed.
“Earlier we planned to have 122 lifts and 296 escalators. Subsequently, we have increased the number to 125 and 320, respectively, since we understood the demand may be higher in some stations. On an average, each station will have four lifts and 10 escalators. But it may be higher in the major stations including Chennai Central, St. Thomas Mount and Alandur,” said an official of Chennai Metro Rail Limited.
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With a capacity to carry 13 passengers, each lift is equipped with automatic rescue devices and braille operating buttons for the benefit of the visually impaired. The escalators have the capacity to hold around 9000 people per hour.
While the lifts are being manufactured by Johnson Lifts. Pvt. Ltd. here, the escalators are made in Suzhou in China by SJEC Corporation and imported in Chennai, said the official. “The contract was awarded to the joint venture between Johnson Lifts. Pvt. Ltd and China-based SJEC Corporation based on a tender process. The price of this contract is nearly Rs. 230 crore,” he said.