CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): The next significant interchange in the Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) network will be Koyambedu because it will provide much-needed integration between Phase I and Phase II developments. Additionally, there is a chance that this network could begin from Koyambedu rather than Thirumangalam for the future line that the State government has planned to connect Thirumangalam and Avadi via Ambattur.
Koyambedu station in Phase I has the highest footfall which is roughly 8,500–9,000 passengers each day. Many commuters board trains at Koyambedu from places like Maduravoyal, Nolambur, Chinmaya Nagar, and even Virugambakkam.
According to representatives of Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL), changes have been made to the alignment and it has been finalized in Corridor 5 of the 61,841-crore Phase II project, which has three corridors: Madhavaram to SIPCOT (Corridor 3), Light House to Poonamallee (Corridor 4), and Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (Corridor 5). A CMBT station was present along the original route; however, CMRL presently intends to relocate it to Koyambedu, which is close to the current station.
“At Koyambedu, the station built in Phase I and the station coming up for Phase II will be integrated and the platform for Phase II will come up over Phase I. We plan to acquire a minimal piece of land for Phase II station at Koyambedu. The idea is to ensure those traveling in Phase I and Phase II can interchange seamlessly. We chose Koyambedu instead of CMBT because the major operations in CMBT will eventually shift to the upcoming Kilambakkam Bus Terminus,” an official stated.
A station from the Phase I project is already operational at Thirumangalam, and a second station has been planned for the Phase II project. Despite the CMRL’s desire, it may be difficult to combine the two stations because the Phase I station is subterranean and the Phase II station will be elevated.
The construction project for Phase II is gaining momentum at various significant locations throughout the city, including Adyar, Madhavaram, Greenways Road, Royapettah, Purasawalkam, Poonamallee, Porur, Light House, and Kodambakkam. The first section of the Phase II project from Poonamallee to Kodambakkam might be made public in another four years.
