Chennai Metro Rail will begin construction of a commercial hub at Thirumangalam in September after earlier delays, the authority said. The development comprises four towers adjacent to the elevated Phase II station, which is being built on three point eight five acres, and an on-ground walkway is planned to link that station to the existing underground Phase I station. The walkway design is being finalised to provide seamless interchange between the two levels.

On the 118.9 km Phase II network, Thirumangalam will be on corridor five, which runs from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur and covers a distance of 47 km with both elevated and underground stretches. The corridor passes through Velmurugan Nagar, Retteri, Villivakkam, Anna Nagar West, Thirumangalam, Koyambedu, Virugambakkam, Ramapuram, Chennai Trade Centre, Madipakkam, Kovilambakkam, and Perumbakkam. Planners expect the link to improve connectivity across north and south Chennai.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited has finalised the contract for building the four towers with an estimated cost of nearly Rs four billion (Rs 4 bn). The towers will include shopping areas and office space and will be connected to the station by a skywalk, with trains routed through the second tower structure. Officials indicated the contract will be awarded within a few weeks and the contractor will have two and a half years from the award date to complete the construction.

A local resident welcomed the prospects that the project may make the locality more vibrant and ease commuting but stressed that adherence to schedules is essential and that both the station and the commercial towers must be completed on time. CMRL described the design for the commercial hub as ready, which the authority said would remove further delays. The development is intended to integrate commercial activity with rapid transit access to benefit daily commuters and businesses.