CHENNAI: After the deployment of massive manpower on corridor 4, all of whom had been working strenuously for several months, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has completed laying tracks till Vadapalani on Monday. This will now enable CMRL to begin the trial run and testing of Metro trains from Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani within a fortnight.
Speaking to DT Next, a senior CMRL official said, “The concerting works of laying tracks had been completed on Monday night, where 135 metres (end of track) was laid around midnight. Now, the signalling and traction works are going on and are expected to finish soon.”
For this, workers have been employed to expedite work especially from Porur to Vadapalani, say officials. CMRL had diverted workers from other corridors to finish the line before the new deadline in February. With 57 cranes of all kinds, 4,000 workers and long hours during the day and night, CMRL is working on war-footing, inching closer to ready the services at the earliest.
As of Monday, over 4,000 workers were engaged in various works from the Poonamallee till Power House. “Over 3,500 workers are working on the viaduct, 450 are laying tracks, and the remaining workers are employed in traction works. Between Poonamallee Bypass-Porur line alone, 1,000 workers have been employed,” he added. “Tracks and other works are being commissioned till Power House Metro, because after passengers de-board at Vadapalani station in phase II, the Metro in corridor 4 will run till Power House to change lines. Hence, the testing will be extended till Power House as well.”
Testing of Metro trains at 80-90 km speed with a driver will be in January. “After multiple tests with the driver, we’ll gradually operate driverless in subsequent trials,” the official pointed out.
Of the three corridors in phase II, corridor 4 (26-km line from Poonamallee to Light House) has been the priority. Though the State government and CMRL had agreed to operate the services by December 2025 from Poonamallee Bypass to Porur Junction with 10 stations in between, the line was extended to connect till Vadapalani.
Meanwhile, it is to be noted that CMRL had received approval from the Railway Board in December for signalling from Poonamallee to Porur, after which, it’s expecting a speed certificate from the Research Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO). Only with the necessary approvals can CMRL energise the line before the deadline. Hence, the operation of driverless trains from Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani for 15.8-km is likely to commence in February.
Currently, as per the plan, Metro trains will halt at 10 stations: Poonamallee Bypass, Poonamallee, Mullaithottam, Karayanchavadi, Kumananchavadi, Kattupakkam, Iyyappanthangal, Thelliyaragaram, Porur Bypass and Porur Junction. From Porur, it will halt only at Vadapalani, bypassing 6 stations in between.
From Vadapalani, passengers can disembark the train, take the Skywalk foot-over-bridge (FOB) that’s under construction to connect to the existing Vadapalani Metro station. The FoB work, which commenced over a month ago, is expected to be completed in a fortnight, confirm CMRL officials.
With construction going on at a faster pace, public anticipation of the first leg of phase II Metro Rail is soon to become a reality.