Latest on the air-conditioning on Chennai Beach - Tambaram - Chengalpet suburban trains!!
Posted on: 11/Feb/2023 9:24:43 AM
On Friday, 10th February 2023, CMRL floated a tender to rope in a consultant for the feasibility of having air-conditioned coaches on Beach –Tambaram- Chengalpet suburban trains.
In October 2022, tenders regarding this long awaited project were floated and there were many taklers is known. Before the month of March, the CMRL wants to identify a consultant to procure the coaches. The report from the consultant could be used by the TN state govt and southern railways or SR.
Till Kilambakkam, CMRL has planned to expand its metro train network. Recently, the proposal to construct a 15.5km metro line from airport to Kilambakkam at a cost of Rs 4080 was approved by CUMTA or Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority. It was mentioned by some regular train users on GST that it might take 4 to 5 years for constructing a metro line between the above said places in Chennai.
Every day, about 4.5 lakhs passengers use suburban trains on Beach-Tambaram-Chengalpet route. The route has several educational institutions plus IT fims and many commercial establishments etc. The demand on the air-conditioned suburban trains would be high even if the SR collects high ticket fares from the passengers.
The occupancy rate in the suburban trains now is near to 200% in the peak hours and this was as per a former zonal rail users consultative committee member Mr. D. Raja. He added that the air-conditioned coaches would have full patronage. He hinted that SR could reduce the number of halts to avoid overcrowding.
It is now said that the CMRL has announced that the deadline for requesting the contact points for the installation of air-conditioned boxes would be extended till 4th of March 2023.
