Chennai Metro: OMR Line keeping future in mind

17 Jul 2024 CW Team

According to a report by The Times of India, Phase 2 of the Chennai metro project, currently under construction on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), is designed with future provisions for East Coast Road (ECR) development. Officials have commenced the construction of pillars and a nearly 200-meter-long viaduct on Kalinagar Karunanidhi Salai, connecting OMR with ECR, as per the report.

The expansion of Sholinganallur?s elevated line, which will serve as an interchange between corridors 3 and 5, includes a short extension line on the road linking OMR and ECR. A Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) official informed The Times of India that if a 1km-2km extension to ECR becomes necessary in the future, they could extend the line being built on Kalinagar Karunanidhi Salai. This line is being constructed to accommodate approximately two metro trains, each around 80 meters long, and can also facilitate train reversals and route switches.

The report indicates potential delays in key lines of the Chennai Metrorail phase-2 project due to challenges related to land acquisition, traffic diversion, and tender processes. Specifically, the 20-kilometer elevated line on OMR from Nehru Nagar to Siruseri Sipcot, originally slated to open by June 2026, is now expected to commence operations by December 2026. Officials attribute this potential six-month delay to ongoing issues with land acquisition, station facilities, traffic management, and junction design at Sholinganallur and Thoraipakkam.

Additionally, authorities are constructing grade separators at Sholinganallur and Thoraipakkam to facilitate smoother traffic flow. The OMR line, forming part of a 45.4-kilometer corridor from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Siruseri Sipcot, has been divided into two sections with separate construction contracts. While work progresses from Nehru Nagar to Sholinganallur, challenges persist for the stretch from Sholinganallur to Siruseri Sipcot.

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