CMRL to build small metro depot at SIPCOT to cut costs

10 May 2023 CW Team

As part of the phase II plan, Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) would erect a modest depot with fundamental amenities at SIPCOT.

With 128 stations and a network length of 118.9 km, Metro Phase II growth is anticipated.

It consists of three corridors: Corridor-3, which runs 45.8 km from Madhavaram to SIPCOT; Corridor-4, which runs 26 km from the Lighthouse to the Poonamalle Bypass; and Corridor-5, which runs 47 km from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur.

The CMRL had planned to build its largest depot at Madhavaram as well as two more depots at Poonamallee and SIPCOT. To bring project costs down from Rs 80,000 crore to Rs 61,843 crore, they chose to abandon plans for the SIPCOT storage.

Both Wimco Nagar and Koyambedu have two active depots.

As part of the phase II project, CMRL authorities intend to build a depot for corridor 3, which connects Madhavaram and SIPCOT. For Corridors 5 and 4, respectively, Madhavaram and Poonamallee will each see one depot built.

The location of the SIPCOT depot will be chosen as soon as its plans are complete. It will include a washing plant, eight to ten stabling lines, and inspection and repair lines.

Following design clearance, bids will be requested, with a price tag of between Rs180 and Rs200 crores, according to a CMRL official.

In order to ensure convenient emergency evacuation routes as well as easy access to transit, metro stations are normally constructed to be spaced every 1 km apart.

Infrastructure Transport

13 Oct 2025

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..