Chennai Metro Rail to club phase-I extension with proposed phase-III network
Even as the phase-II project is underway, Chennai Metro Rail plans to club the proposed phase-I extension stretches as the phase-III network for the city
Even as the phase-II project is underway, Chennai Metro Rail plans to club the proposed phase-I extension stretches as the phase-III network for the city. The three crucial extension projects, which are currently under examination by the Centre — Airport to Kilambakkam bus terminus, Koyambedu to Pattabiram via Avadi, and Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram, are likely to be classified under the phase-III project. The Tamil Nadu government is awaiting approval from the Centre for these three stretches. Sources said that it is very likely that the clearance will come within a few months. Apart from these three stretches, the other ones planned, like Tambaram to Guindy via Velachery and Light House to High Court too are likely to be included under the phase-III project.
It is to be noted that a few more Chennai Metro Rail stretches to link the northern parts of the city are under discussion. The implementation of these stretches may begin after the announcement by the State government based on the recommendations of a feasibility report. “Another important project we plan to include in phase-III is the capacity enhancement components like procurement of 28 si coach trains and the upgradation of phase-I stations,” a source said. It is not clear why the enhancement aspects of the phase-I project are proposed to be incorporated under phase-III.
At present, commuters from the city’s suburbs are looking forward to the implementation of the three extension projects. The 15.46 km Airport-Kilambakkam stretch will cost ₹9,335 crore, whereas the estimated cost of the 21.76 km Koyambedu-Avadi-Pattabiram is ₹9,744 crore. To build the 27.9 km Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram stretch, the cost estimate chalked out by the State government is ₹8,779 crores. Dayanand Krishnan, a resident of Chitlapakkam, highlights how commuters have been waiting for a long time to travel by Chennai Metro Rail in the Airport-Kilambakkam stretch. “The authorities should be cognisant of the congestion in this stretch.
Every day, thousands using the stretch to commute to the city from the Kilambakkam Bus Terminus are suffering without Metro Rail connectivity. Similarly, the Koyambedu-Avadi-Pattabiram stretch also doesn’t have enough bus connectivity, and the people will benefit a great deal from this mass rapid transit system. The Centre must approve these stretches at the earliest since lakhs of people will find it convenient to travel,” he added.
The BriefWire