Latest news with #PhaseIIProject
The Hindu
5 days ago
- 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
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.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- The Hindu
Commuters irked over temporary shifting of Villivakkam bus depot due to Metro work
The temporary relocation of the Villivakkam bus depot to a spot near the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Parade Ground due to the ongoing Chennai Metro Rail work has caused inconvenience to commuters and frequent travellers. Currently, around 40 buses are operated from the new location. The makeshift bus stand, located around 1.3 km from the original depot, has been in operation for the past three months. Commuters from surrounding areas, who usually take small buses to reach the Villivakkam depot and board other buses, say they now have to change at least two buses, take an autorickshaw, or walk a long distance to reach the temporary bus stand, increasing both their travel time and expenses. 'Tiring to walk' Rani, 63, a regular commuter, said she walked about 30 minutes from GKM Colony to the makeshift bus stand. 'Sometimes, I take an autorickshaw when I have enough money. A walk in the scorching afternoon sun is very tiring, especially for the elderly. Though small buses, such as the S44, which runs from Perambur to Villivakkam via GKM Colony, are being operated, their low frequency and irregular timings make commuting difficult,' she added. Asifa, a student who takes the bus regularly, said: 'Earlier, I could take a small bus from Kolathur to reach the Villivakkam depot to board a bus to my college in Nungambakkam. But now that the depot has been moved, I have to walk from Villivakkam for a few minutes, board a bus from the Kalpana bus stop nearby, and then get down near ICF. From there, I need to walk a few more minutes to reach the temporary depot.' She added that taking a share autorickshaw from Kolathur to the Villivakkam depot costs ₹20, but drivers charge another ₹50 to drop commuters near the ICF Parade Ground bus stand. Some buses (27D and 20), which travel to Pattinapakkam and Broadway, take a U-turn near Nadamuni and move towards Villivakkam MTH Road to pick up passengers directly from the Kalpana bus stop — which is a five-minute walk from the original depot — and head towards the designated route. A driver of a Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus, on condition of anonymity, said the MTC was trying its best to meet the needs of the passengers. 'Not everybody can be satisfied. Taking a U-turn, picking up passengers at the Kalpana bus stop, and then heading towards the destination count for additional running time and increase in fuel consumption,' he added. Renovation planned A senior official of the MTC said the Villivakkam bus terminus had been shifted to the ICF owing to the ongoing Metro Rail work for the Phase II Project. Once the work is completed and the facilities are renovated, the bus terminus will be moved back to the original location, he added.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Commuters irked as posters take over Chennai Metro Rail's pillars, barricades
As if the inconvenience caused by traffic diversions and congestion weren't enough, it is quite an eyesore to pass by Chennai Metro Rail Limited's pillars and barricades with posters plastered over them. The problem is not only with Metro Rail, posters are an eyesore across the city; they happen to look more prominent on the tall Metro Rail pillars. Across the city, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has been carrying out construction work for the ₹63,246-crore Phase II Project. While some parts of the project are elevated and pillars are being built for these, construction of underground stations and tunnelling is under way for the remaining areas. All these areas are barricaded for the safety of the public. But, be it the pillars or the barricades, they have all been defaced by posters of political parties or film stars in many areas. While the government is talking about beautifying the city and floating the 'Singara Chennai' initiative, it can happen only if it addresses the poster menace, commuters said. Subramanian of Poonamallee said this was a constant issue on Arcot Road and, sometimes, the entire pillar is covered in posters. 'Decades back, the city had all kinds of posters, be it of marriages, functions, and promoting political parties but now, it is mostly political parties that are at fault. This poster culture must stop immediately,' he added. Raj Natarajan S. of Seemencheri, who frequently commutes on Rajiv Gandhi Salai, said the information technology (IT) corridor was touted as one with numerous companies and was touted as an example of growth of the city, but in several places, one could spot posters covering the barricades and pillars. 'This is not a good look for a government that is promoting the IT corridor and the 'Singara Chennai' concept. It is also an ugly sight for commuters. It is high time party heads ask their cadre not to indulge in such practices. There should also be a hefty fine for those who violate the rules,' he added. According to officials of CMRL, they have been instructing contractors to remove the posters regularly. 'Since it is continuing to occur, we will yet again reiterate the instruction and monitor the issue,' an official said. On social media too, commuters, irked by the issue, have been tagging the agency and asking them to address the issue.
