Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) has invited bids for internal and external painting works at 11 elevated stations along the Phase I corridor, at an estimated cost of Rs 64.1 mn. The tender has been floated as part of a programme to beautify station premises and improve the visual appearance of elevated corridors. The authority indicated that works will be implemented in phases, beginning with a selected set of stations.

The stations covered under the contract are Koyambedu, Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus, Arumbakkam, Vadapalani, Ashok Nagar, St Thomas Mount, Airport, Meenambakkam, Nanganallur Road, Guindy and Little Mount. The selection reflects an initial focus on high footfall and visibly prominent locations on the elevated stretch. CMRL said the remaining Phase I stations will be taken up subsequently under the same scheme.

A CMRL official described the tender as part of the routine enhancement of passenger amenities and urban integration. Local residents and commuters noted that posters, mostly by political parties, have been affixed to metro pillars and barricades and suggested that removal and a ban with penalties would improve station environs. The resident interest has added impetus to ensuring that beautifying efforts extend beyond station concourses to include adjacent structures on elevated lines.

Separately, CMRL will soon begin semi naming of nine Metro stations in the Phase I extension of corridor one, with suffixes or prefixes to be appended to existing names as per contract. The stations to be semi named include New Washermanpet, Thiyagaraya College, Tondiarpet, Tollgate, Wimco Nagar and Wimco Nagar Depot, Thiruvottiyur, Thiruvottiyur Theradi and Kaladipet. Officials indicated that the naming work and painting tender form part of wider measures to modernise the corridor and enhance recognition and wayfinding for commuters.