Metro to begin trial operation of Phase-1 extension in Feb, to connect north Chennai

Considered as a neglected part of the city for decades now, this part of north Chennai is among the first in city’s far suburbs to be connected through Metro Rail service and is expected to bring in more footfall along all lines.

The nine-km Phase-1 Metro Rail extension connects north Chennai with the rest of the city. From Washermenpet to Korukkupet the trains will run underground for 1.8 km and beyond that, it will be an elevated corridor from Tondiarpet to Wimco Nagar. The extension corridor will have nine stations - Washermenpet, Korukkupet, Sir Theagaraya College, Tondiarpet, Toll Gate, Thangal, Gowri Ashram, Tiruvottiyur and Wimco Nagar.

Sources in the CMRL said that the trial with overhead engine inspection wagon would likely be conducted by the end of next month with the works on the track laying and signal expected to be completed shortly. Once the electrical traction work is completed, the trials and inspection will be conducted through the normal metro rail trains, sources added.

The official said changes introduced in the Phase-1 extension works include cantilever elevated structures where the stations are almost hanging in the middle of the road over a row of pillars and stations that are 25 per cent smaller than those built in Phase-1. “The length of the stations has been reduced from 230m to 180m in the north Chennai line,” the official said.

CMRL awarded the contract to Afcons Infrastructure in June 2016 to build 1.8 km tunnel of the 2.4 km underground section from Washermenpet – Korrukupet. For the downline tunnel, the tunnel boring machine was commissioned on April 25, 2017, from the Washermenpet station and completed the tunnel excavation five months ahead of the schedule in September 2017 while the work on the upline tunnel commenced on March 27, 2017, and was completed in October 2017.  With the help of north Chennai’s favourable soil profile which comprises silty sand, fine sand and clay, the tunnel excavation was completed ahead of the schedule in both the down line and the up line of the underground section.

Construction of the extension project which is estimated to cost Rs 3,770 crore was delayed by five years as the Centre gave its approval only by 2016.

The Tamil Nadu government decided to extend Metro services to Wimco Nagar from Washermenpet acceding to the demand of the people of north Chennai. The government agreed to extend the Metro Rail and made an announcement in the Governor’s address in 2010.

After the completion of Phase –1 in February last, footfall has significantly increased and now touches an average one lakh patrons every day. This is set to increase with Thiruvottiyur, Ennore and surrounding areas coming under the Metro Rail coverage.