CHENNAI: The Chennai Beach railway station may transform into a major railway hub as the Chennai Metro Rail is all set to take over the Mass Rapid Transit System (that runs between the Beach and Velachery) by next December.Top railway officials said the Metro Rail would take over a portion of the land and premises of the Beach station from Southern Railway and convert it into a railway terminus. Besides, the Beach and other MRTS stations may also get improved amenities to match the Metro Rail stations. On the other hand, the fares on the MRTS stretch could be increased once it is taken over by the Metro Rail.
Beach, one of the oldest stations in the city, also hosts a station for the suburban rail network that runs between Beach and Tambaram.Top railway and State government officials told Express that the premises would be bifurcated between Metro Rail and the Southern Railway (which will continue to retain control over the suburban rail network).Sources also told Express that the initial plan was to develop the Fort suburban station as the terminus for MRTS services. However, that idea was dropped as Fort did not have adequate land to develop the required infrastructure.But the Beach station, which came into existence in 1931, has the land required for development as a commercial and operational terminus for MRTS.
The idea was discussed during a high-level meeting of the State government with Chennai Metro Rail and Southern Railway officials. In the meeting, which was held to discuss the inception report submitted by consultants — PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Balaji Railroad Systems Limited (BARSYL), leading railway and Metro Rail consulting engineers deliberated on finer aspects of the bifurcation of the Chennai Beach Station.
It was understood that a plan for the transitional period before the merger is likely to be submitted by January next year. “Resources such as rolling stock, signal as well as employees will be retained for some period,” railway sources said. It was also learnt that the fare structure of MRTS is likely to undergo a change and the State is looking at a common ticketing with Metro Rail.
It was also proposed to explore the possibility of having additional parking space at the vacant land available close to Rajaji Salai near Parry’s Corner junction. Railway officials said they had agreed to lease out their land to the CMRL for parking needs, although the design and capacity are yet to be ascertained. The inception report focussed on clearly demarcating the physical assets, such as tracks, platform and yard boundary.
Sources indicated that there won’t be any gauge conversion in the immediate future and hence the same trains plying on the route would continue. It was unclear if in future, the Metro Rail may go for gauge conversion and ply Metro trains between Beach and Velachery.
In the near future, the takeover of MRTS by the Metro Rail may mean it has to lay new rail tracks between Beach and Fort stations. Right now, this stretch is being shared by the suburban and the MRTS network. The proposed track would be built on the eastern side of the existing down line of the MRTS. However, this would require land acquisition from the defence establishment near Fort.
No gauge change
Railways sources told Express that there won’t be any gauge conversion at the MRTS line in the immediate future and hence the same trains plying on the route would continue.
