Foundation Stone Unveiled for Chennai Metro’s 9 km Extension

On this past Saturday, India’s Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister Jayaraman Jayalalithaa unveiled the foundation stone for Chennai Metro’s 9.051 km northern extension to Wimco Nagar!

This northern extension of the 23.1 km Airport – Washermenpet line was proposed in 2009 and finally got approved by the Ministry of Urban Development in December 2015. It is expected to cost Rs 3,770 crore and will add 8 new stations to the network which, when ready in 2022 (est.), will become 54.1 km long.

Laying foundation stone for Chennai Metro extension project (corridor 1 of phase 1) from Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar pic.twitter.com/HQAW6YKPrn

— M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) July 23, 2016

Local news coverage:

This 9 km extension includes 3 major civil components:

(1) Washermenpet – Korrukupet (2.4 km) – Includes the construction of approx. 1500m twin tunnels and 2 new stations at Sir Theagaraya College & Korrukupet. Bids for this package were invited in December 2015 after which Afcons Infrastructure won the contract in June 2016.

(2) Korrukupet – Wimco Nagar (6.6 km) – Includes the construction of an elevated viaduct and 6 new stations at Tondiarpet, Toll Gate, Thangal, Gowri Ashram, Tiruvottiyur & Wimco Nagar. Bids are yet to be invited for this section.

(3) Wimco Nagar Depot – This could possibly be just a stabling yard and not a full-fledged depot. More details are expected to revealed whenever the CMRL invites bids for its construction.

9 km Washermenpet – Wimco Nagar extension – view Chennai Metro map & information

In September 2015, Systra was appointed to prepare detailed design and drawings for the entire extension which includes civil, architectural, MEP and depot works. In the weeks, I’m expecting bids for the Korrukupet – Wimco Nagar (elevated) section to be invited.

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

– TMRG