CMRL turns off AC to save power, public unhappy

According to the management, the air conditioner is being switched off after 11 am, till 4 pm at all underground metro stations under Phase I.

However, commuters do not seem to appreciate the move. “I believe commuters take Metro in the afternoons to avoid the scorching heat outside. 

The purpose gets defeated if the management is trying to save power by switching off the AC. We should find an alternative mode of transport in that case. It is tough to wait for the next train as it is sultry inside,” said a metro commuter.

An official attached to the CMRL said, “The management took this step with an aim to save the consumption of power. 

This is in practice since the end of last year. Further, only a handful of commuters take Metro during lean hours. We decided to cut our operational cost.”

In an effort to avert such measures and save power at the same time, the CMRL equipped three underground stations with the ‘Variable Refrigerant Flow’ (VRF) in the Phase I extension.

This new design was deployed at the Wimco Nagar, Korukkupet and Tondiarpet stations, which is located along the 9 km of the last leg of Phase I. It uses gas-based air-conditioning system instead of water-based air-conditioning system, which utilises 40,000 liters of water every day.

CMRL officials said that they are likely to implement VRF at all underground stations in Phase II.