METRO RAIL WILL CONNECT TIRUVOTTIYUR.
The Chennai Metro Rail project at an
estimated cost of Rs 2200 Crores has been planned to connect Tiruvottiyur in
north Chennai. This is part of Corridor-I of the Metro Rail (Chennai Airport-Washermenpet)
will take a further nine km. seven new Metro stations have been planned as
stops enroute Tiruvittiyur.The extension has been reported in a draft
project report (DPR), prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
(DMRC) as Technically feasible. The report was based on study of traffic pattern.
Based on the report, a high-powered committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary,
has given an in principle approval. The final decision rests with the State
Cabinet. The proposal will then move on to the Ministry of Urban Development,
which is a funding partner.
Senior officials of the State
government were optimistic of the project
and they said that the only the modalities of relocating the sewer
lines, TNEB installations and water supply lines had to be worked out.
According to the DPR, the proposed alignment will have stations in Korukkupet, Tondiarpet, Toll Gate, Thangal, Gowri Ashram, Tiruvottiyur and Wimco Nagar. The corridor runs up to Wimco Nagar, which is about half a kilometre from Tiruvottiyur, to provide a linkage with the Chennai Central – Gummidipoondi suburban section of the Southern Railway.
Integration is also planned at the proposed Toll Gate and the Tiruvottiyur Metro stations with the existing bus depots. A two-level station design has been proposed in both the elevated and underground sections. While one level will serve as the station platform, the open space available in the other level will be used to develop ‘traffic integration areas`.
The segment from Washermenpet to
Korukkupet will be underground and beyond that the Metro will continue as an
elevated corridor. Of the nine kilometres, 2.3 km will be underground and 6.6
km elevated. The alignment, for the most part, runs along the median of
Tiruvottiyur High Road. Since the width of the road is as less as 11 metres at
some locations and it has many sharp curves, there is going to be a “degree of
land acquisition impact”, said an official. The two Metro corridors, Corridor-I
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