Chennai's underground metro rail work put on fast track

Chennai: Thirumangalam and Anna Nagar, which have for long not seen rail services due to low patronage on suburban trains, will soon be able to use services of metro rail as 85 per cent work on the Thirumangalam to Shenoy Nagar underground stretch has been completed.

The underground stations have three levels – street, concourse, and platform levels. At the platform level, there will be platform screen doors, which will open and close with train doors. People will be restricted to move only beyond these doors until the metro rail rakes arrive. This is to ensure that no person can be on the platform until the rail has arrived.

According to a CMRL official, only about 15 per cent of the work related to aesthetics is remaining and once the work for electrification of the path is complete trial runs using metro rail rakes can commence.

“Electrification of the path and signalling work is in progress,” said an official.
Thirumangalam station has four entries and exits, and there are ticket counters at each end. The platform level and the underground stations will be completely air-conditioned.

On the platform level, there are emergency pathways for passengers to be evacuated to the nearest stations during emergency situations. Also, present is a fire waterline that runs parallel to the track for fire emergencies.

A station ventilation system at both ends of the station is in place. Architectural finish works are in progress over the path.

The ancillary station works are also in progress, which would be the sites for mechanical plant rooms, electrical plant rooms, and water storage for fire emergencies.