Deccan Chronicle | Two underground stretches to be inaugurated tomorrow

May 24,2018

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami along with minister for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday will inaugurate two underground stretches of the Chennai metro rail including Nehru Park to Chennai Central (green line) and Little Mount to AG DMS (blue line).

An official of the Chennai metro said the function would take place at Egmore metro station at 12.30 pm and other ministers would take part in the event. While the preparations for that have begun at Egmore metro station, other stations set to be inaugurated, are decorated with lights.

Central to Nehru Park stretch runs along 2.7 km and has three stations including Nehru Park, Egmore and Chennai Central.

Chennai metro, which is currently witnessing a patronage of 34,000 commuters daily, expects it to rise to one lakh once the operations from Chennai central commence. In the peak hours, the frequency of trains between Central to airport would be five minutes, said a senior official.

This would provide a major respite to the commuters from Egmore as trains from various parts of Tamil Nadu depart from the station and also the Egmore bus terminus facilitates inter-state commutation. The Egmore suburban railway station attracts nearly one lakh commuters everyday.

“During peak hours, it is a nightmare to travel in the suburban trains with choking passengers. Metro, though costlier would ensure a hassle-free travel, hopefully,” said P. Chaithanya, a regular commuter from Egmore.

Egmore metro station is spread over a sprawling 8,000 square metres with four entry/exit points - one each at Southern Railway headquarters and Poonamalle High Road and two near the Egmore suburban railway station.

The distance between the suburban railway station and metro rail is short, making it easier for commuters arriving from other states at the railway station, board the metro.

The other stretch from Saidapet to AG-DMS covers 4 km, with stations including Saidapet, Nandanam, Teynampet and AG-DMS. The distance from AG-DMS to airport is 15 km and the train would cover the distance in approximately 35 minutes, while Central to airport would be covered in 45 minutes.