CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): Construction of pillars along Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) from Sholinganallur to SIPCOT has commenced as part of the phase II project of Chennai Metro Rail. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) aims to complete the construction and open this stretch by 2027, barring any delays in the upcoming months.
Phase II of the project involves the development of three corridors: Madhavaram to SIPCOT (corridor 3), Light House to Poonamallee (corridor 4), and Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (corridor 5). With a budget of ₹61,843 crores, the project is progressing well on certain sections, such as Poonamallee-Porur and Madhavaram-Retteri. These sections are expected to be the first ones accessible to the public by 2026.
The construction work along Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), which falls under corridor 3, is divided into two different contracts: Nehru Nagar-Sholinganallur and Sholinganallur-SIPCOT. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) intends to construct the Nehru Nagar-SIPCOT portion as a fully elevated stretch consisting of 19 stations.
The construction work between Nehru Nagar and Sholinganallur has been underway for a while and is advancing steadily. However, the construction of the Sholinganallur-SIPCOT stretch began more recently. According to CMRL officials, the contractor is currently engaged in building a test pile, and after a month, the piling work will commence at full capacity.
A CMRL official stated,”We anticipate no significant obstacles on the OMR stretch, unlike the major challenges faced in areas like Alandur-Adambakkam or Porur-Power House. The initial delays were caused by design changes, which affected the contract award and work commencement. However, with land acquisition mostly completed, we expect to complete the construction within three years and launch it for public use at the earliest.”
