Chennai: Underground metro line to open May 14
The commercial operations are expected to begin later in the day. Once open, the commuters can travel directly from Nehru Park to St Thomas Mount.
Chennai: The first underground corridor of the Chennai metro rail between Nehru Park and Koyambedu will be thrown open to public on May 14, sources from the urban development ministry told Deccan Chronicle. Union urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami will inaugurate the 7 km corridor.
The commercial operations are expected to begin later in the day. Once open, the commuters can travel directly from Nehru Park to St Thomas Mount.
“This means better connectivity and gives us a new experience of traveling underground. It is a relief for residents of New Avadi Road, Shenoy Nagar, Anna Nagar, Thirumangalam and Kilpauk,” says Prerna, an inhabitant of Aminjikarai.
One of the unique features of the underground line is the platform screen doors that open automatically when a train reaches the station. All the stations are air conditioned and equipped with eight giant fans for ventilation and premiere station, Shenoy Nagar has a cross over facility.
The Nehru Park- Central Station stretch is expected to open in 2018 till which the frequency of trains will be 15 minutes as the Nehru Park station lacks train reversal facility. CMRL will use two tunnels between Koyambedu and Shenoy Nagar, Shenoy Nagar and Nehru Park. However, Chief Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Bansal said the inaugural date is not confirmed yet.
Stations from Nehru Park to Koyambedu are Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar Tower, Anna Nagar East, Shenoy Nagar, Pachaiyappa’s College, Kilpauk Medical College and Nehru Park.