Metro rail ; Metro Phase I Extension

The nine-km phase-I extension of the Chennai Metro project, which will pass through crowded working class neighbourhoods in the city’s north to Tiruvottiyur, has been approved, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said on Thursday.

“I approved the files just yesterday,” he said.

Speaking to presspersons here, Mr. Naidu said residents of densely-populated zones like north Chennai were in need of good public transport facilities. “Adding more and more cars on the road is just not feasible,” he noted.

The Metro extension from Washermenpet to Tiruvottiyur, with seven stations in between, now just has to be formally cleared by the Union Cabinet before construction can begin.

A section of the 45-km-long Metro network that is currently under construction would be completed by March 2015, he said. “The people of Chennai will be able to travel by Metro by next year.”

Mr. Naidu reiterated the plan to turn Velankanni into a heritage city. “Kancheepuram and Srirangam are also on the list to be taken up in the next phase,” he said.

On the ‘Smart Cities’ programme, he said the proposal was still at an early stage and the modalities of what exactly constitutes ‘smart’ were being worked out.

Ajai sreevatsan : H 14 Nov 2014

Metro Rail :Metro Rail Stations to Sport Snazzy Look

CMRL plans to lease out spaces in Koyambedu, Vadapalani and Ashok Nagar stations to shops or office spaces; all stations to have food courts, stalls, ATMs and commercial establishments.


CHENNAI: Having seen the failure of the MRTS to capitalise on the vast space lying unused in its stations, the Chennai Metro Rail is planning to make its stations lively and bustling with activity.

In the first phase, CMRL is planning to develop Koyambedu, Vadapalani and Ashok Nagar stations on the elevated stretch by leasing out space either for shops or office spaces. Sources said that a total area of 3,095 square metres at locations in street, concourse and link bridge of the three stations will be leased out.

The built-up area, to be handed over to licencees on an ‘as is where is’ basis, will be an ideal space for retail stores and offices, according to the company.

However, considering the safety issues involved in operating a high-people movement facility, the CMRL has put forth certain conditions for the commercial units vying to occupy the space in the stations. There is a strict ban on cooking using LPG cylinders. Only electrical cooking or heating are permitted, with prior written permission, CMRL sources said.

In other fire safety measures, underground water tanks of  50,000 to 1 lakh litre capacity will be set up at Koyambedu, Vadapalani and Ashok Nagar elevated stations. It has also mandated shop owners to ensure that fire alarm systems with internal fire safety arrangements like sprinklers, smoke detectors are put in place within the space they occupy, CMRL sources said.

Licensing rights of space, officials said, shall be for a period of 15 years, wherein the licencee can exit from the licence agreement after  six months with prior notice to CMRL.

It is planned that all new metro stations would have commercial establishments, food courts, stalls and ATMs, CMRL sources said. This, industry experts said, could bring in substantial income for the company once the transport network is fully functional.

The company is waiting to finalise the architects for designing the commercial space along the Koyambedu Metro station.

 Besides preparing a design and plan for commercial development, the architect should conduct a survey that includes necessary data related to the existing public utility services, lines of streets and pavements, buildings lines, adjoining properties, rights of lights, restrictions, easements, party walls and boundaries. 

.These efforts come in the wake of the CMRL planning to have its first commercial run from Koyambedu to Alandur next year

Express News ;30 Oct 2014

Metro Rail : CMBT to be 1st elevated metro station ready to go

 





Installation of Crucial Telecommunication System Underway

The Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) metro rail station will be the first elevated station of the transit system to be ready for operation. Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) has completed interior work in the building and has started to install telecommunication equipment crucial for train operations when the first trains start plying between Koyambedu and Alandur.

As the trains will be automated, metro stations will need to have equipment for communication between the train and the operations control centre. The control centre from where train operations will be monitored has been installed and testing is underway. There will be seven stations on the Koyambedu-Alandur route.

“Installation of the equipment has started as building work is completed,” a senior CMRL official said. “We have to install a few more passenger facilities at entry and exit. The station will be ready soon for operation of trains.” Arumbakkam, Ashok Nagar and Koyambedu stations will be ready soon after all work at CMBT is completed.

Structural work is complete and interior work is in progress at these stations.

The trains run on pre-fed information which includes halts, duration of halts, speed at various points and other factors.

Onboard sensors will read sensors on the track, take pre-determined commands to identify routes, stations, halts, speed and other information supplied from the operations control centre. This makes it crucial for CMRL to complete installation of track-side sensors and communication equipment at stations before services can be started. If the equipment is not ready, CMRL will have to operate the trains manually.

Tunneling is also progressing rapidly on the Shenoy Nagar-Koyambedu route, which will be the first underground stretch. It is likely to be commissioned next year. Tunnels are ready between Shenoy Nagar and Anna Nagar Tower station. CMRL recently completed a tunnel from tower station to Thirumangalam and started boring towards the Koyambedu ramp.

Of the four stations on the Shenoy Nagar-Thirumangalam underground stretch, the ones at Shenoy Nagar and Anna Nagar Tower are nearing completion. Station boxes, the concourse where commuters buy tickets and platforms have been completed. Anna Nagar East may be the last to be completed.

Ayyappan V

The Times of India (Chennai)Sep 04 2014 :