Anna Salai-Airport Metro line in December

CMRL (Chennai Metro Rail Limited) might launch Metro trains from Central and AG-DMS to Airport by the end of December, if everything goes according to their plan, say officials. Metro rail has planned to invite the CMRS (Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety) to inspect the 3.7 km DMS – Saidapet and Nehru Park – Central sections in a month.

CMRL officials said the two sections that offer direct airport connectivity from Central and DMS to the Airport would be ready by December 2017. In July last, CMRL had run an overhead electrification (OHE) wagon from Little Mount to DMS. As soon as signal and communication works, which were being done since then, get over, CMRL would hold trial runs using the four-car Metro trains, which would culminate with the visit of the safety commissioner.

If the section gets commissioned, as it has been planned, volume of underground network in operation would increase to 15 km with Koyambedu – Nehru Park stretch already being used.

The 3.7 km Saidapet – DMS section would have become operational much earlier if only the Russian firm had not abandoned the work citing cost escalation.

CMRL had subsequently floated fresh tenders and awarded the remaining tunnel and stations works to separate contractors on the stretch which comprises four stations, Saidapet, Nandanam, Teynampet and AG-DMS. Though CMRL had initially proposed to open Saidapet-DMS section when the entire corridor leading all the way up to Washermanpet via Chennai Central and High Court becomes ready for commercial launch, Metro has revised its plans and now proposed to open traffic up to DMK from Airport, which would cover Anna Salai, one of the most-busiest roads in the city.