CHENNAI: To demonstrate the strength of the underground systems in case of a fire or smoke, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) officials demonstrated the smoke detection and removal system, which consists of four tunnel ventilation fans, two on each side of the swanky Thirumangalam station.
In the case of smoke between any two stations, officials said, the huge fans would remove it in less than three minutes.
“Once smoke is removed in one direction, in the other direction, people would be evacuated. Fan from one station, say Thirumangalam, would suck the smoke and fan from the other station, say Anna Nagar tower, would push air in,” said VK Singh, chief general manager (Underground Construction).
A worker’s reflection as seen on the platform screening door at Thirumangalam underground station. (Photo: DC)
Each station is equipped with air conditioning on the three levels — street, concourse, and platform levels. The platform level offers ticketing services and the control room, from which people move to platform levels for boarding trains.
The platform level has platform screening doors, which will open and close with the train doors. The fare from airport to Nehru Park is likely to be fixed at '60.
“We are working with the state transport department to introduce more feeder buses so that our patronage would increase. Also being planned is a tie-up with cab operators like airports so that as soon as people arrive or land at metro stations, they would find cabs easily,” said a senior official.
Senior metro officials said that direct metro services between airport and the stations on the green line are likely to be mulled.
The station will be formally inaugurated on Sunday (May 14) at 10 am by chief minister Edappadi K. Palanisami and Union Minister for urban development, Vekaiah Naidu.
Salient features at metro station
Station features
Each station has four entries and exits, and two emergency exits for the evacuation of people. On the underground stretch, for emergency evacuation, there are cross passages at every 250 meters.
Cameras
Each station is fitted with about 60 cameras, Shenoy Nagar, the largest station on the stretch, has about 80 cameras.
Fans
When an incident causes smoke inside the Metro tunnel passage, four huge ventilation fans swing into action and produce air that removes the smoke and pushes it out of the station through passages.
While smoke is removed in one direction, people are evacuated in the opposite direction. (If there is a fire and smoke between Anna Nagar Tower and Thirumangalam stations, if smoke is pushed out in the direction of Tower station, people will be evacuated from Thirumangalam station.)
Ventilation shafts: All stations have four of these shafts - two on both sides. They are used for ventilation of the stations and for removal of smoke.
