Latest news with #ChennaiMetroRail
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Chennai Metro Rail to build leisure facilities, workplaces at Phase II's Thirumangalam station
Like Kokura Station in Japan or Chongqing in China, Thirumangalam station will emerge as a place where people can shop, dine, or work on one floor and then catch a ride on the Chennai Metro Rail network on another. In a couple of months, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will start the construction of four towers in Thirumangalam. According to CMRL officials, they have floated bids for the massive project, which is located opposite to the Anna Nagar West Depot, near the Phase I Thirumangalam Metro station. Sprawling over 3.85 acres, the project will comprise the Phase II Thirumangalam Metro station and four towers. While Towers A and C will have three basements, a ground floor, and nine upper floors, the station will be in Tower B, which will have a ground floor and nine upper floors. Tower D will have a ground floor and two upper floors. In Tower B, the third floor will have the concourse and the platforms will be on the fourth floor. While ground floors will have retail and convenience stores in Towers A, B, and C, the first and second floors have been earmarked for commercial development similar to malls, and floors five to nine will have dedicated office spaces. T. Archunan, Director (projects), CMRL, said they drew inspiration from mass rapid transit systems in Japan. 'Kokura Station is a classic example for transit-oriented development. Based on the land availability, we are taking efforts to incorporate this strategy in as many locations as possible. But Thirumangalam will stand out as a great example for transit-oriented development since trains pass through buildings, making the commute seamless for people. All they have to do is switch floors to take the train,' he added. Manoharan Nambiar of Thirumangalam said that since there were apartments, a mall, and business establishments, the area suffered from traffic congestion both on weekdays and during weekends. 'Hence, two Metro Rail stations in Thirumangalam is a great boon to commuters. If commercial development and office spaces are planned alongside a mass rapid transport, it substantially improves mobility and does not add to congestion on the road,' he said. A. Shankar, India Head, Government Advisory and Infrastructure Solutions, Jones Lang LaSalle Property Consultants, said Metro systems across the world were being developed from the perspective of transit-oriented development. 'At a time when there is a great demand for office spaces, building them in the same tower with a Metro Rail system will be a great way to do it. Companies will prefer it and take them since they don't have to spend on providing transport for their workers,' he added. Sangami Nagarajan, an urban planner, said mix-use development always worked and would significantly aid in gradually nudging people to shift public transport in the future. 'Integrated development such as this are baby steps that will ensure that more people prefer public transport,' she added. 'Take for instance, the malls in the city. The one in Vadapalani has Metro Rail access, whereas the one in Velachery does not. Hence, the pressure on parking space is manyfold in the latter's case. Also, when stations are located close to the workplace or within the same tower, patronage for the transit system will be high, since people will readily opt for taking trains instead of their vehicles,' Ms. Nagarajan said.
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Chennai Metro Rail Limited to incorporate leisure facilities, workplaces at Phase II's Thirumangalam station
Like Kokura Station in Japan or Chongqing in China, Thirumangalam station will emerge as a place where people can shop, dine, or work on one floor and then catch a ride on the Chennai Metro Rail network on another. In a couple of months, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will start the construction of four towers in Thirumangalam. According to CMRL officials, they have floated bids for the massive project, which is located opposite to the Anna Nagar West Depot, near the Phase I Thirumangalam Metro station. Sprawling over 3.85 acres, the project will comprise the Phase II Thirumangalam Metro station and four towers. While Towers A and C will have three basements, a ground floor, and nine upper floors, the station will be in Tower B, which will have a ground floor and nine upper floors. Tower D will have a ground floor and two upper floors. In Tower B, the third floor will have the concourse and the platforms will be on the fourth floor. While ground floors will have retail and convenience stores in Towers A, B, and C, the first and second floors have been earmarked for commercial development similar to malls, and floors five to nine will have dedicated office spaces. T. Archunan, Director (projects), CMRL, said they drew inspiration from mass rapid transit systems in Japan. 'Kokura Station is a classic example for transit-oriented development. Based on the land availability, we are taking efforts to incorporate this strategy in as many locations as possible. But Thirumangalam will stand out as a great example for transit-oriented development since trains pass through buildings, making the commute seamless for people. All they have to do is switch floors to take the train,' he added. Manoharan Nambiar of Thirumangalam said that since there were apartments, a mall, and business establishments, the area suffered from traffic congestion both on weekdays and during weekends. 'Hence, two Metro Rail stations in Thirumangalam is a great boon to commuters. If commercial development and office spaces are planned alongside a mass rapid transport, it substantially improves mobility and does not add to congestion on the road,' he said. A. Shankar, India Head, Government Advisory and Infrastructure Solutions, Jones Lang LaSalle Property Consultants, said Metro systems across the world were being developed from the perspective of transit-oriented development. 'At a time when there is a great demand for office spaces, building them in the same tower with a Metro Rail system will be a great way to do it. Companies will prefer it and take them since they don't have to spend on providing transport for their workers,' he added. Sangami Nagarajan, an urban planner, said mix-use development always worked and would significantly aid in gradually nudging people to shift public transport in the future. 'Integrated development such as this are baby steps that will ensure that more people prefer public transport,' she added. 'Take for instance, the malls in the city. The one in Vadapalani has Metro Rail access, whereas the one in Velachery does not. Hence, the pressure on parking space is manyfold in the latter's case. Also, when stations are located close to the workplace or within the same tower, patronage for the transit system will be high, since people will readily opt for taking trains instead of their vehicles,' Ms. Nagarajan said.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
T.N. government gives nod to Chennai Metro Rail's Poonamallee-Parandur corridor
The Tamil Nadu government has accorded in-principle approval to build Chennai Metro Rail's Poonamallee-Sunguvarchatram-Parandur project. This is an extension of corridor 4 of the Phase II Project from Light House to Poonamallee. The government has also given in-principle approval for the 'first phase implementation' of this corridor from Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram, which covers a distance of 27.9 km and whose cost has been estimated at ₹8,779 crore. If the first phase is constructed expeditiously, commuters will then have easy access to the Kuthambakkam bus terminus in the future. The State government has recommended the project to the Centre. According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), the 14 stations, which will come up between Poonamallee and Sunguvarchatram, are Nazarathpet, Chembarambakkam, Kuthambakkam Bus Terminus, Samathuvapuram, Chettipedu, Thandalam, SIPCOT Irungattukottai, Pennalur, Sriperumbudur, Pattunool Chatram, Irungulam Industrial Area, Mambakkam, Thirumangalam, and Sunguvarchatram. Soon, the detailed project report (DPR) will be forwarded for the Centre's approval, to get funding on equity sharing basis and for loan assistance, according to a Government Order from the Department of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives. The entire distance of the Poonamallee-Parandur Project is 52.94 km, whose cost has been estimated at ₹15,906 crore. The consultants who carried out the DPR suggested that the project could be implemented in two phases — from Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram in Phase I and from Sunguvarchatram to Parandur in Phase II. 'Soon, we are expecting orders to shift utilities and start land acquisition from Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram. The DPR states that the entire corridor is feasible, but for now, we will begin work for phase I,' a source said. Meanwhile, CMRL is considering the feasibility of having a semi-high-speed system such as the regional rapid transit system (RRTS) to provide connectivity to Parandur.
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
CMRL to seek nod for operating last-mile connectivity vehicles
: Chennai Metro Rail plans to write to the State government seeking permission to operate vehicles to improve last-mile connectivity at ten major stations in the phase-I and phase-I extension network. Barring a brief period before the pandemic when Chennai Metro Rail ran share cabs and share autorickshaws at several stations, there has never been any sustained effort to operate such shuttle services from the neighbourhood areas.Moreover, mini-buses are being operated only from some stations. Manystations of the 54-km-longphase-I and phase-I extension network are located on arterial roads such as Anna Salai, GST Road and Poonamallee Road. While this is beneficial to office-goers as the Metro Rail network connects many government and private establishments, commuters without vehicles struggle to reach the stations from residential areas. According to officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), they will write to the State Transport Department shortly, requesting permission for operating such last-mile connectivity services. 'We are going to ask them to allow us to operate these last-mile connectivity vehicles or shuttle services under the provisions of State Transport Undertaking of the State government. If they give us the nod, then we can go ahead with floating the bids for the project,' an official said. Ten stations, including Wimco Nagar, Chennai Airport, Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar East, Nanganallur, Koyambedu, Vadapalani and Washermenpet, will have shuttle buses if CMRL gets the approval. At terminal stations such as Chennai Airport and Wimco Nagar, the shuttle buses will cover a 10-km radius. In the remaining stations, they will operate over a 5-km radius. 'We are thinking of operating 8, 10, 15 and 25-seater vehicles based on the demand in each station,' another official said. V.A.R. Srivatson, a resident of Nanganallur who often travels to the High Court and Thousand Lights said, if people took an autorickshaw to the nearest station, it would certainly cost more than the metro fare. 'Additionally, not everyone can walk from their residence to the station as the streets are bereft of well-paved footpaths in several areas. In the interest of train patrons, the CMRL must resume last-mile connectivity system soon,' he said.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Track-laying work for Metro Rail Phase II begins on Porur-Kodambakkam section
Track-laying work has started on the stretch from Porur Junction to Kodambakkam, which is part of Chennai Metro Rail's Phase II Project. Porur Junction to Kodambakkam via Vadapalani is a 6.5-km elevated section of corridor 4 (Light House to Poonamallee). Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has been concentrating on first opening sections of this corridor, which runs to a distance of 26.1 km. In December this year, the 9.1-km Poonamallee-Porur section is likely to be ready, and by July next year, the Porur-Kodambakkam section may begin operations. The corridor beyond Kodambakkam and till Light House will be underground. According to CMRL officials, a total of 13 km of tracks (onward and return line) will have to be laid for the section between Porur and Kodambakkam. The stations planned for this section include Alapakkam, Karambakkam, Valasarawakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Saligramam Warehouse, Saligramam, Vadapalani, and Kodambakkam Power House. Sources said the Porur Junction-Kodambakkam section had already faced delays due to the complexity of construction and limited road width. This is because the section includes double-decker tracks for 4 km from Alapakkam to Alwarthirunagar. 'The contractor has been encountering a lot of difficulties in completing the double-decker part. The viaduct work is in progress with a massive piece of equipment called launching girder, but it can be done mostly at night. There has been quite a bit of delay because of this as well,' a source in the project said. Meanwhile, the preliminary work to lay tracks has started between Saligramam and Vadapalani, a source said. 'After this, the contractor will take up the work between Alapakkam and Karambakkam. It will be a gradual process. Once the launching girder is dismantled at a site, the track-laying team will begin work there,' another source said. It could take four to five months to lay the tracks from Porur Junction to Kodambakkam. Besides, a trial run was conducted between Poonamallee and Porur on the onward line last month. By the end of this month, CMRL will complete track work for the return line on this stretch.
