Chennai

Senior CMRL sources told DT Next that they have scheduled the run on the 4km stretch, which would soon extend metro connectivity to the city’s arterial road, Anna Salai, in the first week of February.

A four-car metro train would be taken on the underground stretch with officials on board. Trains would be operated at peak speed (70-80kmph) during the trial run, though the average operational speed is only 35-40kmph. Incidentally, metro officials had operated a four-car metro train from Nehru Park to Chennai Central (2.5kms) only last Friday. CMRL has planned to open Nehru Park – Chennai Central and Little Mount – DMK stretches together sometime in March after the successful completion of the inspection of commissioner of metro rail safety. 

Though CMRL had originally planned to open the entire Anna Salai stretch in mid2018, partial opening from Little Mount to DMS was taken up owing to delay in completion of tunneling from Thousand Lights to DMS, where rocky terrain had affected the work progress.

So much so that CMRL had to delay one of its “wall breakings” at DMS a few months ago after the cutters were blunted by the tough terrain. If all goes to plan, Anna Salai would be offered partial metro rail cover and the crucial Airport – Chennai Central link established in a couple of months.

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