Latest news with #ChennaiMetroRailLimited
The Hindu
13 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
14 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.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
CMRL eyes Dec launch for Porur-Poonamallee line
Chennai: Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is targeting Dec for commissioning the 9.5-km elevated stretch between Porur Junction and Poonamallee Bypass, with full-scale testing now underway on both tracks. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On Friday, CMRL ran the first downline trial train from Porur to Poonamallee, after earlier testing the upline in May. The route includes 10 elevated stations and is linked to the Poonamallee Depot, which will serve as the central control point for upcoming rolling stock, power supply, and safety testing. Friday's trial was run at low speed (20kmph) for safety validation. "The same train will return on the upline at full speed today (Friday)," said CMRL managing director M A Siddique. Speed trials will progressively scale up to 70kmph, the line's design speed. Over the next three to four months, CMRL will test all six Alstom-supplied train sets, check rolling stock performance, and begin signal system trials. The line will be equipped for Unattended Train Operation (UTO) — driverless trains. "Initially, trains will be operated with a person onboard. Once confidence is built and systems stabilize, the operation will be fully driverless," Siddique said. The stretch also includes the double-decker segment at Kattupakkam, where the viaduct runs above a highway — completed last month. Siddique said that completing viaduct and track works in this section posed labour mobilisation challenges but was achieved on schedule. The newly charged Auxiliary Substation (ASS) at Poonamallee Bypass, powered by a 33kV supply from the receiving station at the depot, was also inaugurated on Friday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This energizes key traction and station systems for the trial runs. Once the Porur–Poonamallee stretch opens, work will shift to the Porur–Vadapalani–Power House section and Alapakkam–Chennai Trade Centre segment, both targeted for major completion by June 2026. Meanwhile, tunnelling work from Pondy Bazaar to Kodambakkam is expected to finish by July.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Alstom bags 1.5K-crore CMRL contract for 32 driverless trains
Chennai: Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) finalised its last set of trainsets for Phase-2 by awarding a 1,538.35-crore contract to Alstom Transport India for 32 driverless trains. Each trainset will have a passenger capacity of around 900. As per the delivery schedule, the first driverless train will be handed over by February 2027 for testing at Phase-2 depot, with remaining rakes to follow between Sept 2027 and May 2028. A 14-month integrated testing period is planned before commissioning. This order is the third and final UTO (Unattended Train Operation) procurement for CMRL Phase-2, completing CMRL's rolling stock contracts. The first two UTO contracts are already underway with supplies in progress. With this order, Alstom's total supply to CMRL Phase-2 rises to 204 Metropolis driverless cars, having already been tasked with building 108 cars for Poonamallee Bypass–Light House corridor. Alstom earlier delivered 208 cars for Phase-1 and is also responsible for track construction along Corridors I and II. Alstom will also maintain the trains for 15 years beyond warranty, including upkeep of depot equipment and spares. Senior CMRL and Alstom officials were present at agreement signing, including CMRL director Manoj Goyal. These trains, part of 'Metropolis' family, will be fully manufactured at Alstom's Sri City facility under Make in India initiative, with design handled by its Bengaluru engineering centre.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Alstom bags €135 million contract for Chennai Metro Phase II, ET Infra
Trainsets and maintenance scope Advt By , ETInfra Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Get updates on your preferred social platform Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more. French transport company Alstom has secured a contract worth €135 million (approximately ₹1,321 crore) from Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) for Phase II of the city's metro project. PTI has reported that the deal includes the design, manufacture, supply, testing, and commissioning of 96 Metropolis metro cars Under the contract, Alstom will supply 32 three-car trainsets. The company will also provide 15 years of maintenance services after the warranty period. This will include cleaning, obsolescence management, and upkeep of plant and machinery at the metro trains will be manufactured at Alstom's facility in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, aligning with the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. Each trainset can carry around 900 passengers and is designed for multiple unit operations. They will include evacuation features for train-to-train and train-to-track 119-km Phase II network will have three corridors, covering more than 76 km of elevated track and 43 km Loison, Managing Director, Alstom India, said, 'This new contract strengthens our association with CMRL in helping modernise Chennai's urban rail mobility landscape.'Alstom is currently producing 108 driverless Metropolis cars for another section of Phase II, connecting Poonamallee Bypass to Light House through 30 stations — 18 elevated and 12 its first contract with CMRL in 2010, Alstom has delivered 208 metro cars for Phase I of the project.
