New rly station, skywalk to come up near Kilambakkam bus stand

CHENNAI: With the construction of new bus terminus in Kilambakkam nearing completion and expected to be opened during Pongal, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) have decided to construct a new suburban railway station near the bus stand. Also, a skywalk will connect the proposed railway station and the bus stand.

According to an official, the new railway station will be constructed between Vandalur and Urapakkam railway stations, opposite the Kilambakkam bus stand just across the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road.

"We have already spoken with the Southern Railway and the higher ups. The railway's have given in-principle approval for constructing the railway station. We will construct the railway stations by following the norms of railway department," the official said.

He added that the bus stand and proposed railway station will be linked by a skywalk which will have walkalators, lifts and other facilities. The skywalk will be of 450 metres in length.

"The skywalk will be helpful to the passengers from the city, who come to the bus stand to board mofussil buses. This will also reduce the congestion at Perungalathur bus terminus," the official explained.

Meanwhile, the CUMTA has floated a bid inviting consultants to prepare feasibility for constructing the new railway station and skywalk.

On Thursday, State Housing and Urban Development department minister S Muthusami and MSME department minister TM Anbarasan inspected the construction works of the Kilambakkam bus stand. "Around 82 per cent of the works have been completed and all the works will be completed in 60 days," Muthusami told reporters after the inspection.

As many as 2,350 buses to southern districts will be operated from the new bus stand.

Apart from new railway station and skywalk, the planning authority is in talks with National Highways Authority of India to construct a flyover so that buses could take 'U' turn without causing traffic snarls on the GST Road.