CMRS Approves Chennai Metro’s Airport – Little Mount Section
After conducting a 2-day safety inspection of Chennai Metro’s 8 km Airport – Little Mount section, Sudarson Nayak – the appointed Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety has given his approval to the Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. for starting commercial operations! This approval comes with certain conditions which haven’t been revealed but are expected to be minor & cosmetic in nature.
The Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. is hoping to open the line later this month. As per a CMRL official who interviewed with The Hindu:
We have given a date to the State government for approval. It is most likely to happen between August 16 and 20
This section is the 1st stretch of the 32.10 km Airport – Wimco Nagar line to be ready and will connect to the 10 km Alandur – Koyambedu line, which became operational in June 2015, via the Alandur interchange station. It includes 6 stations at Little Mount, Guindy, Alandur, Nanganallur Road (OTA), Meenambakkam & the Airport. A small 600m section of it has been built underground between Nanganallur Road & Meenambakkam as it lies on the flight path of planes coming in to land on the secondary runway – view details & images.
Alignment of Airport – Little Mount section – view Chennai Metro map & information
In addition to the inspection images posted last week, here are some brand new images of the inspection carried out at the Nanganallur Road (OTA) station on this past Friday:
Photo Copyright: Ashwani Upadhyay
Photo Copyright: Ashwani Upadhyay
Photo Copyright: Ashwani Upadhyay
Photo Copyright: Ashwani Upadhyay
Photo Copyright: Ashwani Upadhyay
Photo Copyright: Ashwani Upadhyay
Trial runs on this section began in October 2015. Prior to electrification being completed on the entire stretch in April, the CMRL in March ran a self-propelled OHE maintenance wagon to visually inspect the line and finally started full-length trial runs in May. Recent images of the stations can be viewed here & here.
Stay tuned for more details on the line’s inauguration date 😀
For more updates, check out the Chennai section of The Metro Rail Guy!
– TMRG
From the other hemisphere: An interesting story on NYC’s “G” line in today’s New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/02/nyregion/short-trains-frequent-disruptions-once-mocked-the-g-train-is-now-cool.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
Unlike in Delhi [NCR], every single line in the NYC Metro system runs into Manhattan – except for the “G” line.
Enjoy!
That’s an interesting read – thanks for sharing.
I read about the L line’s closure a couple days ago. The damage was caused due to Hurricane Sandy (2012) and only now has the MTA been able to push through with their plans to close the line temporarily in 2019. Goes to show how painfully slow infra maintenance/repair can be. Perhaps some time is factored in for change management as it’ll disrupt people’s commute, property prices etc.
Hi TMRG,
Do you have any update on detailed project feasibility report for phase II of Chennai metro. I remember seeing recent announcement like addition of 104 kms in 3 lines…104 stations finalised etc…
Hi, the DPR is supposed to be submitted in September. Whenever it is done, I’ll make sure to write about it. My previous posts on the Phase 2 project can be read here and here.
When the trials will start for ito kashmere gate line. It will start in November.
Hi, as explained in the August Tunneling Update post, there’s still a lot of work pending at Kashmere Gate and the line will only be able to open up in 2017, and not in November as claimed by the DMRC. Trial runs may start to any of the intermediate stations, but it will be a while before the trains reach Kashmere Gate.
How much work is left at kashmere gate.
Parts of the station’s box have to be covered, track-work, signalling etc.
What is the update on that partly demolished building after ip extension metro station.
Does this mean the train are being operated on a faulty line till then? How can New York be so bad to its subway?
What is the status of CMRL phase 1 and phase 2 extension work.