Chennai Metro: CMRL Sets 45-Day Deadline to Complete Remaining Red Line Track Work 

CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): A 45-day plan has been devised by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to complete the track-laying work across the remaining 5 km of the Red Line, according to the Director of Projects at CMRL. The deadline has been set to facilitate the next stage of traction and signalling work for the section between the Chennai Trade Centre (CTC) and Alandur along the Red Line.  

As per The New Indian Express report, Thiru. T. Archunan, the Director of Projects at CMRL, acknowledged the completion of track laying between Koyambedu and CTC. Partial progress  has also been noted with track laying work completed along an estimated 500 metres stretch of the 5 km section beyond the Chennai Trade Centre (CTC). 

Once operational, Corridor 5 of Chennai Metro (Red Line) will provide an easy transit option across densely populated residential and commercial belts. The under-construction rapid metro network under Chennai Metro Phase 2 has the following features:

The Director of Projects at CMRL told The New Indian Express that they are planning to conduct internal trial runs for the completed stretches in November or December before the inspection by Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO). They are expecting to initially conduct trails on the corridor up to CTC, followed by the section up to Alandur.

To complete the signalling system across the Yellow Line between Vadapalani and Porur, the Director also sought an extension of the deadline from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS). To which the CRS gave a nod, while also suggesting the unfinished construction work at some of the stations across Yellow line to run in parallel with it.

The automatic signalling system was the aim for the stretch of Porur-Vadapalani before ending up with the manual signalling mode. The delay is attributed to additional programming and installation requirements. The existing manual signalling arrangement remain in service untill March 2027, according to the statement by the Director of Projects T. Archunan, requiring the metro drivers are required to stop at 3 locations along the stretch.

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CMRL is pacing up to achieve the finishing line by undertaking improvements at entry and exit facilities across stations. Around 750-850 trained officials have been involved in these activities. For the entire project, approximately 2,500 workers have been hired but for other associated tasks such as station access facilities, painting and other finishing activities, the slots remain vacant. 

The pending construction at 6 stations (Alapakkam, Karambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Virugambakam South and Saligramam) across the Yellow Line might achieve its completion in December or January, with 4 stations expecting its final date of construction around January. For the stations namely: Alwarthirunagar, Valasaravakkam, Karambakkam and Alapakkam are double-decker stations and might need more time and efforts to finally be ready for trail runs or the next progressive steps.

Also Read: Chennai Metro to Start 6 AM Services on Poonamallee–Vadapalani Stretch from October 23 

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