Tunnel ride in city likely from month-end

If everything goes according to plan, the inaugural run on the Koyambedu-Nehru Park underground stretch could happen in a week. The only factor preventing Chennaiites from boarding a metro train in to the underground section is the approval of the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), who would inspect Koyambedu– Nehru Park stretch for two days from Wednesday. 

“Once the CMRS clears the stretch, it is a matter of fixing the date for the launch of the commercial run in consultation with the state government,” said a senior CMRL official on condition of anonymity. 

Civil works on the façade and the station premises above ground would go on simultaneously even as the trains run underground, the officer added, exuding confidence that they were hopeful of getting the CMRS nod in less than a week. 

Claiming that the safety commissioner must have been convinced with the documents furnished by them and the inspection should be a cakewalk, the officer explained that even if the commissioner recommended some minor changes, they would complete them along with the ‘finishing touches’ (works of stations above the ground). 

“We would, in all probability, complete all the works and run the train before the end of the month,” the officer explained. 

Once commissioned, commuters would be able to travel from Kilpauk to Airport in less than 40 minutes for a meagre Rs 70, which is the maximum fee in the existing 45 km metro stretch.