Chennai: Fifty per cent of electrification of the CMRL line between Thirumangalam and Shenoy Nagar has been completed. Trial runs are expected to start by May, according to CMRL sources.
“Electrification work is on from Koyambedu to Shenoy Nagar via Thirumangalam. It is expected to be finished by April. Once that is done, signalling work will begin. Later, the tracks will be used for trial runs,” said a senior CMRL official.
“On the Shenoy Nagar to Nehru Park stretch, track work is going on.
Tracks will be laid by April. By May end, electrification of the tracks should begin,” he added.
According to sources, electrification on the Koyambedu to Thirumanaglam ramp, and Thirumanaglam to Shenoy Nagar is expected to be finished in April.
“We will get another station at Thirumangalam. I won’t be using it as much, but it will helpful for IT employees living here,” said an aged resident of Anna Nagar West. Based on the pace of track laying, electrification, signalling work and inspection, trial runs on the stretch of Washermanpet to Chennai airport will be done.
In October 2015, using a diesel locomotive, a trial run was carried out on a two km stretch from Thirumangalam ramp to Anna Nagar Tower. This 9.7 km stretch is underground. The remaining portion from Koyambedu to Alandur is operational since June 2015.
Also, trial runs on the 1.5 km stretch between Alandur and St Thomas Mount are expected to begin soon, as work is nearing completion
