Delay in Anna Salai Metro work irks road users

Chennai

Tunnels account for nearly 24 kilometres of the total 45-kilometre stretch covered by CMRL that includes two corridors — one a 23.05-kilometre stretch from Washermanpet to the Chennai international airport and the other 22.50 kilometres from Chennai Central to St.Thomas Mount.

A total of 55 per cent distance will be underground. A total of 19 railway stations cover this stretch. However,  the 4.44-kilometre stretch between Washermanpet and Egmore and the 3.61-kilometre stretch between the May Day Park and DMS are yet to be completed. While more than 75 per cent of the work has been completed on the Washermanpet – Egmore route, less than 50 per cent work has been finished on the May Day Park – DMS stretch.

A total of 32 stations have been planned along the two lines. As many as 19 stations will be underground and 12 are elevated. Of these, the Chennai Central (underground) and Alandur (elevated) are common for both the corridors and will serve as interchange stations.

The Chennai Central Metro station is being constructed at a depth of 25 metres and will become the nerve centre of CMRL as both corridors converge at the station.

St Thomas Mount station, where MRTS and suburban lines meet, will be the second largest metro station in the city, where metro line and MRTS line meet at two levels. A separate pathway is being provided for commuters from suburban railway station to walk into the Metro-MRTS station complex.

CMRL sources said the slow pace of work by the new contractor was the reason for the delay in completion of tunnelling work. While a Russian contractor left midway, CMRL failed to hand it over to another who was willing to shoulder the work. It was given to a new contractor whose work is yet to pick up pace, it is said.

With nearly 84 per cent work being completed as on March-end, work is being undertaken on a war footing to lay tracks and signalling equipment, sources say.