Chennai Metro’s Koyambedu – Nehru Park Stretch to Open on May 14

The Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) is all set to inaugurate commercial services on the 8 km Koyambedu – Nehru Park underground section of the 22 km Green Line on May 14th (Sunday) with top state ministers and the Union Minister for Urban Development accepting their invite to attend the launch ceremony.

This section is Chennai’s 4th stretch overall and the 3rd stretch of the Green Line, between St. Thomas Mount – Central, to get ready after the Koyambedu – Alandur section opened on 29 Jun 2015 and Alandur – St. Thomas Mount section on October 14 2016. The CMRL started trial runs between Koyambedu & Anna Nagar East stations in April 2016, extended them to Shenoy Nagar in July 2016 and then to Nehru Park in October 2016. The line was approved by the CMRS in mid-April after a 2-day inspection on April 12-13.

For commercial operations, the CMRL plans to utilize both tunnels between Koyambedu – Shenoy Nagar and only the down-line tunnel between Shenoy Nagar – Nehru Park, as the Nehru Park station lacks a train reversal facility. Due to this, it will maintain a 15 minute frequency in the underground stretch until the Nehru Park – Central Station section opens up in 2018.

Although the Airport – Little Mount section of the Blue Line consists of a small 600m underground section near the airport’s secondary runway, the Koyambedu – Nehru Park stretch will be the city’s first true underground metro line to open up connecting 7 underground stations at Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar Tower, Anna Nagar East, Shenoy Nagar, Pachaiyappa’s College (erst. Aminjikarai), Kilpauk Medical College and Nehru Park – each featuring platform screen doors:

Koyambedu – Nehru Park section of Chennai’s Green Line – view Chennai metro map & information

This section was built by two contractors:

• UAA-05: Thirumangalam Ramp – Shenoy Nagar by Afcons-Transtonnelstroy JV

• UAA-04: Shenoy Nagar – Egmore by L&T-SUCG JV

Some images shared previously on Twitter:

New images from inside the Thirumangalam Station:

Photo Copyright: The Hindu Business Line

Photo Copyright: Vikatan

Photo Copyright: Vikatan

Photo Copyright: The Hindu Business Line

Photo Copyright: The Hindu Business Line

Photo Copyright: The Hindu Business Line

Photo Copyright: The Hindu Business Line

Photo Copyright: The Hindu Business Line

Photo Copyright: TE Rajasimhan

Photo Copyright: Vikatan

Photo Copyright: Vikatan

A fire drill was conducted inside one of the tunnels today. Some images:

Photo Copyright: New Indian Express

Photo Copyright: New Indian Express

Photo Copyright: New Indian Express

Once inaugurated, Chennai will become the 5th city in India to operate an underground metro line after Kolkata, Delhi, Jaipur and Bangalore. Its network’s length will become 27.9 km long – just shy of Kolkata Metro’s 28.14 km Line-1.

Stay tuned for a post on its inauguration!

For more updates, check out the Chennai section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG

written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

9 Responses to "Chennai Metro’s Koyambedu – Nehru Park Stretch to Open on May 14"

  1. RUPRAJ SENGUPTA says:

    Great news started work three months after KOLKATA east west METRO,now set to overtake Kolkata METRO total length!

    Reply
  2. Jay says:

    looks good, but for how long ?? 6 months ?? lets wait and see

    Reply
  3. VIVEK SAHAY says:

    Aesthetically looks better than Namma Metro..in Many ways..Rolling stocks,Station design and appearance,more protection on platforms etc.

    Reply
  4. Muthu says:

    What an idiotic idea. CMRL doesn’t even want jolly riders! People initially will want to try how it works for them before committing themselves to using it daily!
    https://www.google.co.in/amp/www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/no-tokens-for-underground-metro/article18445153.ece/amp/

    Reply
  5. LOGESH says:

    I have noticed your news from daily thandi news paper, regarding your fines and punishments, who are Missuseing…
    YOU FORGOT THIS,
    KINDLY GIVE PUNISHMENT AND FINES THOSE WHO SLIPTING IN TRAIN OR STATION..
    Tnks

    Reply
    • LOGESH says:

      I have noticed your news from daily thandi news paper, regarding your fines and punishments, who are Missuseing…
      YOU FORGOT THIS,
      KINDLY GIVE PUNISHMENT AND FINES THOSE WHO SLIPTING IN TRAIN OR STATION..
      Tnks

      Reply
  6. LOGESH says:

    மெட்ரோ ரெயிலை சேதப்படுத்தினால் 10 ஆண்டுகள் ஜெயில்
    கோயம்பேடு – நேரு பூங்கா இடையே நாளை தொடங்கி வைக்கப்படும் சுரங்க மெட்ரோ ரெயிலை தவறாகப் பயன்படுத்தினால் சிறைத்தண்டனை, அபராதம் விதிக்கப்படும் என்று அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.
    http://www.maalaimalar.com/News/TopNews/2017/05/13142251/1085102/10-years-jail-if-metro-train-damages.vpf

    Reply
  7. Muthu says:

    Hi TMRG,

    Regarding the following statement above

    “For commercial operations, the CMRL plans to utilize both tunnels between Koyambedu – Shenoy Nagar and only the down-line tunnel between Shenoy Nagar – Nehru Park, as the Nehru Park station lacks a train reversal facility. Due to this, it will maintain a 15 minute frequency in the underground stretch until the Nehru Park – Central Station section opens up in 2018.”

    Is it necessary that only the down-tunnel needs to be used? Technically, every alternate train can go to alternate tunnels after Shenoy Nagar and reverse back on the same tunnel and switch over before Shenoy Nagar right? I agree, it can get confusing for passengers because the signboards and the trains will not match but that isn’t a technical limitation. That way you can perhaps run trains at 8 min frequency instead of 15min and demand a larger patronage hopefully. I think a 15 min interval is just very infrequent to migrate private transport guys to the metro. Perhaps the MTC bus folks would move over!

    Reply
  8. gowrikumar says:

    i am travelling from tirumangalam to nehru park last 8 months. i find it very convenient to travel and reach office in time. no tension of driving car in the traffic.the stations are indeed very clean and cool. only hiccup is non availability of mobile phone signal in the underground station. once provided nothing to beat the metro..

    all the best for adding 2 stations egmore and central..

    rgds
    Gowrikumar
    annanagar west

    Reply

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