Latest news with #MRTS
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Ride easy: reimagining Chennai's future rail networks
For nearly three decades, two facts at odds with each other, yet true, have coexisted in Chennai. While only incremental additions have been made to the vast suburban railway network, the mass rapid transport system (MRTS) and the Metro Rail have been established. The Metro Rail, in particular, has revolutionised the core city travel. In 1993, the metre gauge was converted into broad gauge for operating bigger trains and accommodating more city commuters. Since then, there have been very few attempts to improve the network or passenger amenities. In 2007, 14 years later, the MRTS service was started from Beach to Velachery. It created a scenic elevated traffic-free corridor, but the uptake was not as good as was anticipated. As a consequence, passenger amenities did not go far. In 2025, MRTS commuters still have to put up with badly-lit stations, unpaved paths, ill-maintained parking lots, leaky platform shelters, and the lack of clean public conveniences. The suburban services that carry more than 18 lakh commuters daily remain the bridge between the suburbs and the city. The fare is the most affordable. For office-goers and traders coming from as far away as Arakkonam, Chengalpattu, and Sullurupetta in Andhra Pradesh, the suburban services are the only option to commute to the city without spending much time, or money. But, for a burgeoning city and its suburbs, there is always a demand for more: more lines, more services, and better passenger amenities. The Metro Rail project has revolutionised intra-city travel; over the last decade or so, it has shortened distances within the city. With better passenger amenities, more attention to barrier-free access and better-maintained stations and coaches, this system has become the daily commute option for many residents. The first phase created a 45-kilometre network comprising corridor-I (Washermanpet to Airport) and corridor-ll (Chennai Central to St. Thomas Mount). Other lines have been planned and anyone who visits the city today understands that Chennai is in the throes of development, largely on account of Metro Rail. Finally, attention is being paid to the wholesome development of railway services in their entirety, in the last five years or so. Will the rail transport network in Chennai become vastly better a decade down the line? Here are some developments that could make things better for the city: The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) could not have come at a better time. A total of 90 stations in Southern Railway were selected for redevelopment and 15 stations of them from the Chennai Division. The 15 stations are Beach, Perambur, Tiruvallur, Arakkonam, Chengalpattu, Guindy, Ambattur, Mambalam, Park, St. Thomas Mount, Guduvanchery, Thiruttani, Jolarpet, Gummidipoondi, and Sullurupetta. A senior railway official said that at first, 15 stations were selected, and then two more were added to the list. They are Chromepet and Thirusulam. The ABSS is meant to redevelop the stations by showcasing local landmarks. It also seeks to improve approach roads and circulating areas; install food stalls, CCTV surveillance, and digital signboards; increase the length of platforms; and enhance the access for persons with disabilities through the Divyangjan project. Details of redevelopment St. Thomas Mount: inaugurated Sullurupetta: completed Park (90% completed): cost ₹10.68 crore (lifts, platform resurfacing, and a new facade). Thiruttani (85% completed): cost ₹11.67 crore (a bigger concourse, arch facade, new circulating area, paving of the parking space). Guindy (75% completed): cost ₹8.50 crore (a new booking counter, lifts, and platform resurfacing). Gummidipoondi (74% completed): cost ₹15.62 crore (a new pedestrian plaza, station building, new parking space, and lifts). Mambalam (72% completed): cost ₹8.70 crore (a new booking counter on the western side, pedestrian plaza, replacing of the roofing shelter, wide parking area, and lifts and escalators). Jolarpet (70% progress): cost ₹15 crore (a new two-storey station building, additional platforms and shelters, bigger circulating area and a new foot overbridge). Ambattur (70% progress): cost ₹10.48 crore (a new station building, canopy porch and arched entrance, and platform resurfacing). Tiruvallur (68% completed): cost ₹14.40 crore (a new concourse with porch, new parking space, provision of new platform shelters, and foot overbridge). Chengalpattu (65% progress): cost ₹17.74 crore (construction of a two-storey administration building, paving of new pedestrian pathway, new booking counter, retiring rooms, and lifts). Arakkonam (63% completed): cost ₹20.58 crore (a new station building, parking space, renovation of existing station building, and lifts. Guduvanchery (54% progress): cost ₹14.80 crore (redevelopment of the existing building, new entrance with elegant arches, new parking space, and lifts). Beach (44% progress): cost ₹11.08 crore (new pedestrian zones, parking space widening, and resurfacing of all platforms). Perambur (42% completed): cost ₹15.86 crore (a new commercial building, replacement of the old platform shelter, huge parking space, resurfacing of platforms, and lifts and escalators). The Chromepet station is to be redeveloped at a cost of ₹14.18 crore, and Thirusulam at a cost of ₹15.60 crore. Fourth line The Chennai Division completed the fourth line from Beach to Egmore at a cost of ₹275 crore. It will help to operate dedicated suburban and mail and express services on four lines. Egmore redevelopment The proposed redevelopment of the Egmore station, the second railway terminal in the city, at a cost of ₹735 crore. Tambaram sector There are plans for making Tambaram the third terminal and for the construction of a halt station at Kilambakkam at a cost of ₹20 crore. The halt station, proposed and funded by the Tamil Nadu government, will help thousands of passengers boarding the long-distance buses at the Kilambakkam bus terminus. MRTS services The MRTS services are operated from Beach to Velachery. The stretch has 17 stations. The stretch was inaugurated by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in 2007. The project was partly funded by the State government. At the inauguration, Karunanidhi had announced extension of the line to St. Thomas Mount. The announcement gave hope that commuters would get the much-needed connectivity to the Tambaram-Beach section. After 18 years, the project, which was caught in problems of land acquisition for 500 metres for several years, was finally over. But the project has not been completed as the phase 2 elevated corridor of Metro Rail linking the St. Thomas Mount station is set to be constructed above the MRTS line. AC train The Chennai Division started running an air-conditioned suburban train in March this year in the Beach-Chengalpattu section for commuters willing to pay a higher fare. Railway officials hope that the AC services will become popular. In fact, the Chennai Division has requested for the second AC train to be operated in the western section. Central station The iconic Dr. MGR Chennai Central Railway Station is the gateway for passengers arriving in the city. But it is sticking out like a sore thumb. Earlier attempts by Southern Railway to develop this station have borne no fruit, and the station is dirty. There have only been piecemeal improvements. Metro rail Phase 1 extension The phase I extension network has established seamless connectivity to some parts of north Chennai. It runs 9.05 km with one corridor (Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar). Phase 2 The phase-II project will establish a network of 120 km with three corridors: corridor 3 (From Madhavaram Milk Colony to Siruseri-SIPCOT), corridor-4 (From Light House to Poonamallee Bypass), and corridor-5 (From Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur). When this network becomes fully operational, it will improve the commute since passengers will be able to change from Metro Rail's phase I network to phase II network and from phase II network to the suburban train and MRTS systems. South extension Chennai Metro Rail Limited has also planned to establish a southern side extension, from the Airport to Kilambakkam (15.46 km).
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Persons with disabilities find access to St. Thomas Mount station difficult
The St. Thomas Mount Railway station has undergone a makeover of sorts with an emphasis on improving passenger amenities. The initiative is part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) project. The railway stations in the city that were constructed decades ago, and have since witnessed improvements in passenger amenities only in piecemeal, have undergone welcome changes, particularly with regard to the appearance of railway stations redeveloped and inaugurated under the ABSS. A total of 15 railway stations are under various stages of redevelopment under ABSS. The redeveloped station has an air-conditioned ticket counter, foot overbridges (FOBs), escalators, shelters, paved parking facility and newly built public conveniences, making commuters wonder if the stations were competing with metro stations. The redeveloped St. Thomas Mount railway station, which was inaugurated along with Sullurpetta by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 22, has, however, been a disappointment for persons with disabilities (PwDs). with regard to accessibility. S. Jayalakshmi, a person with disability, using the Mount railway station, lamented that the newly constructed ticket counter was located at the entrance of the station on Medavakkam Main Road, and the FOB with escalator near Karikalan street, at a distance that PwDs and senior citizens find difficult to cover. While the FOB had been linked to all the six platforms, the Metro, and the upcoming Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) stations, the escalators were, most of the time, not functioning, she said. Vaishnavi Jayakumar, a member of the Freedom Movement Coalition (FMC), said the first redeveloped ABSS station remains inaccessible to PwDs because of various deficiencies. She said the ramp to the ticket counter was paved with polished granite, rendering it unsafe, the platform height of suburban stations had not been increased, resulting in a huge gap, and the station lacked a designated parking space for PwDs. She failure to construct a ramped FOB despite ample space availability, absence of lowered ticket counter, and paved parking would pose severe hardships to passengers with reduced mobility. Also there is nodesignated parking. Ms. Jayakumar said that despite the FMC reaching out to the divisional railway manager in 2022 to ensure that stations were made accessible, neither was an accessibility consultant engaged, nor were detailed design drawings or plans shared. The commuters also wanted shelters along with seats to be installed at platforms 4 and 5. where the air conditioned train is normally stopped. A senior official of Southern Railway regarding the absence of escalators in certain platforms said a escalator connecting platforms 4 and 5 is being installed. An official of the Southern Railway said the redevelopment of the station is an evolving process and the complaints the accessibility would be addressed in the coming months.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Building Pune: Pune Metro takes up designing of stations in Kharadi-Khadakwasla route, begins preparing DPR for Kharadi to Airport
With the major work of Pune Metro's first phase almost complete, the authorities have begun the planning of the second phase by undertaking the designing of 14 of the proposed 22 elevated stations on the Kharadi-Khadakwasla corridor of Pune Metro rail. It has also started the process of preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Kharadi to Pune airport connectivity and a spur line from Kondhwa. The Maharashtra government in October last year approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to implement Phase Two of Pune Metro which included two routes of 25.8 km from Khadakwasla to Kharadi via Swargate and Hadapsar with 22 stations at a cost of Rs 8,131 crore as well as 6 km from Nal Stop to Manik Baug via Warje with six stations for Rs 1,765 crore. However, the proposal on Phase Two is pending with the Central Government for final approval. 'The Pune Metro has started the detailed design consultancy services for 14 elevated stations on the Kharadi-Khadakwasla Corridor. This is the preliminary work required for the implementation of the project. It will save time for actual work on site, which will begin only after the approval of the union government,' said Hemant Sonawane, Executive Director of Pune Metro Rail. The work of Phase One is nearing completion as the work on Khadki Metro station is almost over, he said, adding that the work of the foot overbridge across the Mutha River will also be completed soon. The Pune Metro has also undertaken the work to prepare the DPR for new corridors providing connectivity to Pune Airport in Lohegaon and a spur line to Kondhwa, Yewalewadi, and Undri area, said Sonawane. The first phase of Pune Metro has been completed and has become operational with service from Vanaz to Ramwadi and PCMC to Swargate. The extension work has begun on routes such as from Swargate to Katraj and PCMC to Nigdi, while Vanaz to Chandni Chowk and Ramwadi to Wagholi extensions are awaiting Central Government approval. The detailed designing of Metro stations includes preparing general arrangement drawings, interface drawings, and detailed design and drawings, keeping in view of the economy and aesthetic considerations. The stations will be planned for six coaches, and each station will have conceptual and preliminary designs. All the station buildings have been envisaged as fully compliant with the requirements of solar energy utilisation. The provision for property development integrated with stations at all stations will be explored to boost non-fare revenue. The authorities will also explore the feasibility of introducing one additional floor above or below the platform level, and all stations will be designed as per IGBC Green Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) norms to obtain the highest rating. The Swargate North Station is to be connected with the Swargate Metro station of the PCMC-Swargate corridor through a pedestrian foot overbridge (FOB) or underpass, whichever is deemed suitable. Kharadi Chowk Metro station is to be connected with the Kharadi Junction interchange Metro station of the Ramwadi-Wagholi corridor through a FOB. Two pedestrian FOBs are proposed for the Hadapsar Railway Metro station — the first one of length 350 m is proposed to integrate the Metro station with Hadapsar Station of the Railways, and another 450 metres is proposed to cross the state highway 27. Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More
New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TN CM Stalin submits key demands to PM Modi in brief Delhi meet
CHENNAI: The memorandum of demands submitted by Chief Minister MK Stalin to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their brief one-on-one meeting on Saturday in New Delhi included approval for key infrastructure projects, change in the nomenclature of certain castes to remove the implied disrespect in the names, inclusion of Dalit Christians in the list of Scheduled Castes and the safeguarding the interests of Tamil Nadu fishermen. The infrastructure projects in the memorandum included approval for Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rail Projects in a 50:50 cost-sharing model between the state and the centre, handing over of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Indian Railways to Chennai Metro Rail Limited, widening of NH-32 between Chengalpattu and Tindivanam into eight lanes, expansion of Coimbatore and Madurai airports, and establishment of a new AIIMS in Coimbatore. The release of funds withheld under Samagra Shiksha scheme, for which the state government has recently approached the Supreme Court, was also part of the demands. Importantly, in a demand made by many SC and ST communities for long, the CM appealed to the PM to enact necessary legislation to change the names of all those castes ending with '-n' or '-a', which imply disrespect, and instead end the names with '-r' to ensure dignity. Referring to the frequent arrest of TN fishermen and seizure of their boats by the Sri Lankan Navy, the CM urged the centre to find a permanent solution to the issue. The CM later told the media that he was given five minutes to interact and submit the list of demands to the PM.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Stalin meets Modi in New Delhi; places slew of demands for Tamil Nadu's development
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on the sidelines of the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog and presented him a memorandum outlining several demands related to the development of the State. Speaking to media after the meeting, Mr. Stalin said he had requested the Prime Minister to release funds for Samagra Shiksha scheme, approval for the proposed metro rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai, expansion of the airports in Coimbatore and Madurai, handing over the operation and maintenance of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in Chennai to Chennai Metro Rail Limited, and widening the Chengalpattu-Tindivanam National Highway into a eight-lane road. Further, he demanded the establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Coimbatore, changing the nomenclature of some communities in the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, inclusion of Dalit Christians into Scheduled Caste list and immediate release of fishermen from Tamil Nadu apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy. He also said he had thanked the Prime Minister for releasing funds for the Chennai Metro Rail Phase II Project and expressed hope that Mr. Modi will consider his slew of demands. Mr. Stalin, while responding to a question on criticism from Opposition parties regarding his participation in the NITI Aayog meeting, said: 'Mr. Palaniswami [AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami] had said I am waving a white flag. I don't have any white flag. Only he has a saffron flag.' When asked about his meeting with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Minister said: 'It was a courtesy visit. Whenever I come to Delhi, I meet them. We also spoke politics,' he added. To a question on alleged financial irregularities in the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) and sand quarries, Mr. Stalin said: 'It is false propaganda.'
