CHENNAI: Chennaites could realize their dream of travelling by Chennai Metro Rail in the 23 km stretch from Chennai Egmore to Airport by the end of December provided all the clearances are in place, according to Chennai Metro Rail.
Celebrating the completion of the first 5km underground tunnel package from Shenoy Nagar to Koyambedu, chief general manager (Underground Construction) V K Singh told Express that the work on the underground stretch is commencing at a rapid phase and the 9km stretch between Chennai Egmore and Koyambedu would be ready by December 2015.
“It will be ready for commercial operations by the end of December provided we get all the safety clearances by then,” said Singh as the tunnel boring machine brought down the cement slab thus linking Shenoy Nagar with ramp linking Koyambedu amidst joy and cheers from the metro rail workers. He said that the trial run in the underground stretch between Chennai Egmore and Koyambedu would begin by the end of June or July 2015.
Interestingly, the tunnels between Shenoy Nagar and Kilpauk Medical College is also likely to be completed in the next 10 days by L&T while that between Kilpauk Medical College to Nehru Park will be completed by February 2015.
Of the total 36km underground stretch to be done in five packages, a total work of 25 km has been completed amidst various challenges, said Singh.
R Ramanathan, director of projects, Chennai Metro Rail, said that the 10km elevated stretch from Koyambedu to Alandur would be ready by January end or February. However, he did not give any dates on when the commercial run on the stretch would begin.
“It is being left onto the state government,” he said. Ramanathan also said that the stretch between Little Mount to Airport as well as Alandur to St Thomas Mount would be ready by December 2015 provided all the clearances are in place.
Interestingly, this could mean that the stretch between Chennai Egmore and Airport would be ready by December 2015.
Talking about the tunneling operations for metro being done in Delhi and Chennai, Singh said while in Delhi the operations were smooth as it was done above the water level while in Chennai it is being done below the water level.