Change in metro plan: No damages to Natesan and Panagal Park

The Chennai Metro Rail Service, which was initiated to reduce the traffic congestion in the city, commenced its first phase of construction by laying a two-way metro route from Vanarapet to the Chennai airport.

According to plans for the second phase of construction, a route that connects Madhavaram-Siruseri-Poonamallee will be laid. Construction of a metro tunnel in T Nagar to connect Kalangarai Vilakkam-Poonamallee is underway.

The construction plans for the metro earlier included an entryway at Natesan Park and Panagal Park. This received a lot of flak from the locals who feared that the construction of the metro will cause damage to the parks. Due to public outrage, the metro rail department has remodelled the plans. The new construction plans will not cause any damage to Natesan Park. The department has also declared that no trees in the parks will be cut down during the construction.

Having constructed the entryway away from the park, only a small area of Panagal Park and Natesan Park has been occupied by the CMRS. This has been done in such a way that there is no inconvenience whatsoever to the people who visit the parks.

Since around 2 thousand trees around the entryway have been destroyed in the construction of the phase 2 of the metro, the CMRS has decided to plant new trees in their place once the construction is completed.