Multi-modal transit hubs to come up in Guindy, Washermenpet

CHENNAI: Accessing various types of transportation like Metro Rail, bus and others will become easier as the Greater Chennai Corporation has decided to create a multi-modal transport hub in Guindy and Washermenpet.

Already, the civic body and the Chennai Metro Rail Limited have proposed a multi-modal integration in Broadway to link Broadway bus stand, Metro station, Fort Railway station, Ripon Building and Madras High Court.

According to a Chennai Corporation official, the multi-modal integration will be implemented under the Mega Street project that has been proposed to redevelop the city roads to promote non-motorised traffic.

On Friday, the Chennai Corporation officials, along with officials from Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), inspected selected roads in Guindy and Washermenpet to discuss the feasibility of implementing a multi-modal transportation hub.

“A report has been prepared based on which the project will be implemented. In Guindy, roads behind the Guindy Railway station including Velachery Road will be taken up under the project. Similarly, roads around Washermenpet Metrorail station and Washermenpet railway station will be taken up. Under the project, escalators, pedestrian pathways, skywalks and other facilities will be provided to interlink various transport modes including MTC,” the official added.

The project will be implemented jointly by the civic body, state Highways Department, Southern Railway and Chennai Metro Rail Limited. The official explained that once the multi-modal integration is realised, commuters can reach one transport station to other without hassle.

Recently, the civic body has asked Chennai Metro Rail Limited to take up Broadway multi-modal transportation project as the latter has already implemented a similar project by linking Central railway station and Central Metro station.

“The multi-modal transportation hubs will increase the usage of public transportation facilities and reduce the usage of private vehicles. This will cut the emission of pollution gases. If easy access is provided, commuters will prefer buses and trains,” another official said.

CMRL to develop roads around Metro stations

The Greater Chennai Corporation has decided to hand over roads around the city Metro stations to Chennai Metro Rail Limited to carry out development works.

“Five metro stations in north Chennai, including the Tondiarpet station, will be handed over to the CMRL (Chennai Metro Rail Limited). The CMRL will take up beautification works on roads and spaces around the selected Metro stations,” a Chennai Corporation official said.

Earlier, the civic body proposed to implement a project under the Mega Street project in north Chennai, where Metro stations are located, to improve pedestrian-friendly facilities on the roads, seating arrangements and other beautification works. The civic body has planned the Mega Street project based on the Pedestrian Plaza project in T Nagar, that was implemented under the Smart City Mission.

Apart from this, the civic body has also finalised Khader Nawaz Khan Road (KNK Road) in Nungambakkam and MC Road in Old Washermanpet as pedestrian plazas under the Mega Street project. Of the two roads, the plan is to develop MC Road into open mall. The project is under bidding stages.

It may be noted that the civic body has already prepared street network plan for the city in 2019 under Mega Street project. As per the plan, as many as 87 streets and some major roads have been proposed for the new designs in which aspects of pedestrian pavements and cycling would be given priority.

The civic body has segregated the project into six packages each for a specific locality. The six packages are Tondiarpet, Tiruvottiyur and George Town, Anna Nagar, Nungambakkam, Mylapore, Velachery and Adyar. All the six packages cover an area of 76.6 sqkm.

While the proposed Guindy multi-modal transportation hub falls under the Velachery package, Washermenpet multi-modal transportation hub falls under Tondiarpet package.

On the other hand, construction of skywalk connecting Mambalam railway station and T Nagar bus stand is nearing completion and facility will be inaugurated for public use in a few weeks, the official added.