CHENNAI: In about two month’s time, commuters alighting at Park railway station can look forward to a more convenient option of crossing over to Madras Moore Market Complex station, courtesy a subway. Part of the proposed Chennai Central square, which promises to alter the area surrounding one of the city’s busiest transit hub, the subway will facilitate easy and convenient access for pedestrians without having to face any traffic hassle.
Giving the status of the Central Square project, estimated to cost Rs 280 crore, V K Singh, Chief General Manager (Underground section), Chennai Metro Rail Limited, on Friday said the master plan has already been prepared, but a design consultant was developing it further presently. “Tenders can be floated for the project in a month or two,” he said.
An important aspect of the project is the construction of four pedestrian subways. Of them, one subway connecting the Park railway station to Moore Market Complex (MMC) is expected to be completed in about two months. At present, there is a temporary Foot Over Bridge (FOB), which pedestrians use to cross over from MMC to park station. This apart, there are two subways that have been proposed to connect Chennai Central with either side of the Buckingham Canal. The fourth and longest subway will connect the General Hospital with the Flower Bazaar Road.
Giving out more details about the subway from Park station to MMC, Singh said there will be covered walkways for pedestrians on the MMC side. There are plans to install solar panels on top of the walkways. The power generated can be used for lighting and other purposes.
The subway will have a width of eight-nine metres. All the subways will have lifts as well as escalators to assist the elderly and physically challenged persons, the official said.