Chennai: “The phase one extension project that links Washermanpet with Tiruvottiyur and Wimco Nagar will be open for public by June 2020. Not only that, all the pending safety works in this last line of phase one between AG-DMS and Washermanpet stations will be completed at the earliest,” said Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) – Bengaluru circle K A Manoharan.
He said this post undertaking the safety inspection of the final line of Chennai Metro Rail Ltd’s (CMRL’s) phase one project connecting AG-DMS and Washermanpet stations today, starting the process from Washermanpet station.
Earlier, he inspected the ventilation facilities, track works, and other parameters. He checked out various facilities at all the eight stations on the stretch including AG-DMS, Thousand Lights, LIC, Government Estate, Chennai Central, High Court, Mannadi and Washermenpet to verify if they are safe for passengers.
“After the safety inspection fully gets over and all the drawbacks sorted out, the opening date of the line for public will be announced which will be most probably in a week,” he added.
The inauguration of this stretch will denote the completion of the Rs 14,600 crore phase one project covering a total of 45 km. With phase one inching towards opening, CMRL has gradually shifted focus to the 9-km phase one extension that links Washermanpet with Wimco Nagar and Thiruvottityur. The contract for the track work has been awarded to Apurvakriti Infrastructure Private Ltd and would take about a year to complete.
Nine stations at Washermanpet, Korukkupet, Sir Theagaraya College, Tondiarpet, Toll Gate, Thangal, Gowri Ashram, Tiruvottiyur and Wimco Nagar, will come up according to the plan. The construction would be complete by December 2019.
CMRL is also ready for its phase two project which will connect Madhavaram with Sholinganallur. This phase is expected to stretch across 108 km and will have 116 stations at a cost of Rs 80,000 crore. The first portion of this phase will span 50 km connecting Madhavaram and Koyambedu CMBT.
| What will be scrutinised? |
| Several civil, operations and system readiness parameters namely OHE height, stagger measurement, demonstration of fire hydrant at ramp area, demonstration of jet fans, ramp sump pump inspection, overview, measurement of schedule of dimensions (SODs), gauge, level, clearance measurement at every 200 m intervals, demonstration of passenger emergency telephone (PET), public announcement (PAP), passenger information displays (PIDS), lifts, escalators, HV room and M05 room among other things will be inspected during the two-day event which will conclude tomorrow. |