In phase-2 metro in Chennai, underground stations to be changed as elevated stations
Posted on: 31/Dec/2018 10:02:23 AM
In a few years of time, phase-2 line of the metro would be opened for the public. The commuters would enjoy a roller coaster ride in this phase-2 as few underground stations would be elevated to cut the cost. It is worth mentioning that few metro stations would go underground well below the existing tunnels at a depth of 29 metres. As the corridor designs are getting fine tuned by an external consultant, CMRL or Chennai Metro Rail Limited is having plans about making some of the underground metro stations into elevated ones.
Before the end of 2019, the agency has planned to start the construction of 52 km stretch regarded as priority corridor with as many as 57 stations. The information is atleast 3 underground metro stations might be built parallel to the existing metro stations on phase-1 may be built at a depth of 29 metres. This might lead to the tunnels linking the stations under the existing ones.
The metro stations in places such as Thousand Lights, KMC and Nandanam have been built underground at a depth of 18 metres would have another station in phase-2. This was confirmed by the officials belonging to CMRL. An official later explained about the alignment of phase-2 and said new metro stations would not be built on the same road where existing stations are functioning.
The important piece of news is Kilpauk metro station which is built under Poonamallee High Road might have another station built in the nearby Barnaby road. It is said that the tunnels of both these stations would be one below another. The official shed light on how Kilpauk station tunnels might be at a depth of 18m and KMC metro station in phase-2 might be at a depth of 29m. This is the depth of Central Metro which is the transit hub of phase-1. To make it easier for the people to switch corridors, the metro stations that run parallel would be linked through a walkway. This was also confirmed by the official of CMRL. JICA made many heads turn when it agreed to fund nearly 50% of total estimated cost of Rs 40,000 crores and released the first tranche of Rs 4000 crores. This amount was for the 52 km priority corridor. Now CMRL is treading carefully for the phase-2 project because of increasing costs plus the delays it had learnt from phase-1.
The costs could be brought down and construction could be increased by converting few underground stations to elevated stations depending on the availability of space. This effort is being taken by CMRL. The sensational piece of news is Thirumangalam metro station would be built as an elevated metro station on the 100 ft road. This station is a part of corridor 3 from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur is well known. According to the official, CMRL is having plans to link the elevated station with the entry point of the underground station on the third avenue road. He hinted that everything would be finalised in the design detail and about the 3 consultants who are doing their work on this.
