Phase II to reduce CO2 emission by 10 lakh tonnes a year: CMRL

Chennai Metro Rail, which is an environment-friendly transport mode with no air emissions involved in its operation, is expected to help reduce carbon dioxide emission by 10.22 lakh tonnes per year after phase II begins operation by 2025. This is calculated considering the reduction in private vehicle usage if the public prefers to travel on Metro.

In the comprehensive detailed project report of Chennai Metro phase II, CMRL estimates a reduction of 5,966 tonnes per year in carbon monoxide emission while the particulate matter pollution would be prevented to the tune of 332 tonnes.

The work on the 118-km phase II, which runs in three corridors, is likely to begin by the end of this year or early next year. The construction of the priority corridor (52-km Madhavaram to Sholinganallur and Madhavaram to CMBT) would be taken up first and commissioned in a phased manner starting from 2024-25.

As the public is expected to switch over from private vehicles to Metro, the CMRL estimates that the consumption of petrol, diesel and CNG would get reduced significantly. “It is estimated that about 247.46 million litres of diesel and 24.12 million litres of petrol will be saved daily in 2025. These reductions will increase to 652.30 million litres of diesel and 61.13 million litres of petrol in 2055,” it said. In terms of monetary terms, the report said that the estimated total daily savings on diesel and petrol would be Rs 19,117 million in 2025 and it would go up to Rs 50,219 million in 2055.

To study the ambient noise level, the CMRL monitored 19 locations along three proposed corridors on an hourly basis for 24 hours. “The Noise Monitoring results show that the noise levels at all locations exceed the standards prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at residential zones, commercial zones and silence zones throughout the day and night,” it said.

However, the Metro phase II construction would result in loss of about 2,043 trees in all the three corridors together. “Compensatory tree planting will be done at a ratio of 1:12. This will increase the CO2 absorption by 73,548 kg per year and will also increase oxygen production by 2.69 Lakh Kg per year,” said a Metro official. So far CMRL has planted 70,633 compensation plants in and around Chennai City at the ratio of 1:27 for the 2,617 trees felled during Phase I and Phase I Extension.