Chennai Metro: The important Madhavaram – Taramani Corridor to be Delayed

After the Delhi Metro and the Hyderabad Metro, the Chennai Metro is India’s third-largest metro system. After partially finalising and opening the first phase of the project, the rapid transport system was opened to more than seven million people of Chennai in 2015. The Chennai Metro, which serves India’s sixth most populated city, provides an urgently needed high-capacity mass transit option to increase connectivity and minimise growing traffic concerns. The project’s goal is to provide public transportation that is well-integrated with other modes of public and private transportation, such as buses and sub-urban trains in densely populated areas.

The Tamil Nadu government established a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called ‘Chennai Metro Rail Limited’ (CMRL) to carry out the Chennai Metro Rail Project. The Tamil Nadu government sanctioned Rs 50 crore to commence the Chennai mass transit network project in 2007, and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was given the responsibility to prepare a detailed project study. The Chennai Metro Rail Corporation (CMRC) was established as a special-purpose vehicle to carry out the project. Accordingly, after the Central Government’s approval of the CMRL project on January 28, 2009, construction work on Phase-1 of the project began in June 2009.

Project Details

The Chennai Metro’s Phase I was opened in stages. On June 29, 2015, the first segment of the route between Alandur and Koyambedu was commissioned, and on May 14, 2017, the first underground line between Thirumangalam and Nehru Park was inaugurated. The two segments, which run from Nehru Park to Chennai Central and from Saidapet to AG-DMS, opened a year later on May 25, 2018. On February 10, 2019, the Blue Line’s underground extension from AG-DMS to Washermenpet became operational, completing a 45-kilometre network under Phase I of the metro rail project.

Phase 1 also included a 9.5-kilometre expansion from Washermenpet Metro Station to Wimco Nagar. The line’s construction began in July 2016, and after successful testing runs in December 2020, it became operational in February 2021. Phase 2 works of the Chennai Metro have begun, under which the Southern Railway is building track in one of the most difficult sites, St Thomas Mount and Adambakkam. This phase is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.

Estimated Cost

The estimated cost of Chennai Metro Phase 1 is Rs 14,600 crore, including escalation, central taxes, and interest, but excluding State taxes and unoccupied State government land. The Centre and state governments paid around 41% of the total cost, with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) covering the remainder. On November 21, 2008, India and Japan signed a financing and loan agreement in Tokyo. The projected Phase 2 expansion would extend around 119 kilometres and shall have 128 stations, including 48 below-ground stations, and is expected to be completed by 2026.

Phase 1

The first phase of the Chennai Metro includes the construction of two corridors: Line-1 (Blue Line) from Chennai Airport to Washermenpet, which was later extended to Wimco Nagar, totalling approximately 30.10 km, and Line-2 (Green Line) from Chennai Central to St Thomas Mount, totalling approximately 22 km. The total combined length of the rail network is 54 kilometres, with 24 kilometres underground and 21 km elevated. All important intersections and major transport hubs in Chennai have been connected under Phase 1 of the CMRL project, including Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, the Central Mofussil Bus Terminal (CMBT), the Chennai Airport, St Thomas Mount, Guindy, Government Estate and the High Court.

These two corridors of Chennai Metro Phase-1 travel along three prominent arterial roads in Chennai: Anna Salai, EVR Periyar Salai, and Jawaharlal Nehru Salai. The Phase 1 extension was supposed to be nine km long, from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar. There are nine stations in total, as well as an elevated depot. Seven of the nine stations are raised, with the remaining two being underground. The line opened on February 14, 2021, with the exception of Thiruvottiyur Theradi Metro Station and Wimco Nagar Depot Station, which opened on March 13, 2022.

Chennai Metro: Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase II expansion is planned for a network length of 118.9 km and 128 stations. There are three Corridors: Corridor-3, Corridor-4, and Corridor-5. OCG is an important member of the consortium providing General Consultancy (GC) services for the Chennai Metro Rail Phase 2 Project – Corridor 4 and a portion of Corridors 3&5. The Phase II construction work has already begun and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.

Services Provided

Oriental Consultants provides the following services as the General Consultant:

• Prepare tender documents, solicit bids, and award contracts for Elevated, Underground Civil, and Systems works.
• Review, examine and approve all design work.
• Supervise and oversee all contractors, design consultants, suppliers, and manufacturers.
• Maintain safety at all workplaces.
• Civil and system package construction supervision, including construction safety, installation, testing, and commissioning.
• Planning, supervision, and integration of BIM
• Coordination activities of all contractors. 
• Verifying system testing, trials, and commissioning.
• Operation and maintenance planning

Phase-II : Actual Project Works

Phase-II under GC-II

Phase-II Stations under GC-II

Phase-II Tender Packages

Phase 2 Information

The Tamil Nadu government approved the Chennai Metro Phase II project, which includes three new lines totalling 118.9 km, in 2019 at a cost of Rs. 69,180 crore. The cost has since been reduced to Rs 61,843 crore by dropping and lowering the station sizes. The approval by the Central Government is currently awaited. RITES completed the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Phase 2 in December 2018. Out of the total length of 118.9 km, 52.01 km of Line-3’s section between Madhavaram and Sholinganallur and 52.01 km of Line-5’s section between Madhavaram and CMBT have been planned to be built in the initial phase and shall be partially funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through an ODA loan. Bidding for this largely underground phase commenced in January 2020. Chennai Metro Phase 2 is projected to be constructed and inaugurated in stages beginning in 2025. After phase 2 is completed in 2026 (estimated), Chennai’s metro network will be approximately 173 km long.

• CMRL’s Phase 2 Deadline: December 2025
• Completion Estimate: December 2026

Phase 2 Routes

This phase features the construction of three new lines on standard gauge tracks, with stations that are shorter and smaller compared to those completed in Phase 1. The official alignment and line colours for these three additional lines are yet to be announced.

Line-3 (Purple Line): Madhavaram – SIPCOT 2

• Length: 45.813 km (19.09 km elevated & 26.72 km underground)
• Depot: Madhavaram & SIPCOT
• Number of Stations: Forty-Nine (20 elevated & 29 underground)
• Stations: Madhavaram Milk Colony, Thapalpetti, Murari Hospital, Moolakadai, Sembiyam, Permabur Market, Perambur Metro, Ayanavaram Otteri, Pattalam, Perambur Barracks Road, Doveton Junction (cancelled), Purasawalkam High Road, Kellys, KMC, Chetpet Metro, Sterling Road Junction, Nungambakkam, Gemini, Thousand Lights, Royapettah Govt Hospital, Radhakrishnan Salai Jn, Thirumayilai Metro (interchange with Line-4), Mandaiveli, Greenways Road Metro, Adyar Jn, Adyar Depot, Indira Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur Metro, Taramani Road Junction, Nehru Nagar, Kandanchavadi, Perungudi, Thoraipakkam, Mettukuppam, PTC Colony, Okkiyampet, Karapakkam, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, Sholinganallur (interchange with Line-5), Sholinganallur Lake, Ponniamman Temple, Sathyabama University, St Joseph College, Semmancheri, Gandhi Nagar, Navallur, Siruseri, SIPCOT 1 and SIPCOT 2

 Line-4 (Orange Line): Light House – Poonamallee Bus Depot

• Length: 26.09 km (16.02 km elevated & 10.07 km underground)
• Depot: Poonamallee
• Number of Stations: Twenty-Eight (18 elevated & 10 underground)
• Stations: Light House, Kutchery Road, Thirumayilai Metro, Alwarpet, Bharathidasan Road, Adyar Gate Junction, Nandanam, Panagal Park, Kodambakkam Sub Urban, Meenakshi College, Power House, Vadapalani, Saligramam, Avichi School, Alwarthirunagar, Valasaravakkam, Karambakkam, Alapakkam, Porur Junction, Chennai Bypass Crossing, Ramachandra Hospital, Iyyapanthangal Bus Depot, Kattupakkam, Kumananchavadi, Karayanchavadi, Mullai Thottam, Poonamalle bus terminus, Poonamallee Bypass, Poonamallee Bus Depot

This line’s alignment was approved to be modified in mid-2017 and will now connect up to Poonamallee via Vadapalani and Porur. Stations planned at Foreshore Road and Natesan Park have been dropped.

• Estimated Project Cost: $2174.53 million
• Financing Plan: AIIB: $356.65 million (16%), Unassigned Co-Financer: $1,165.52 million (53.6%), Govt. of TN: $652.36 million (30.4%)

Line-5 (Red Line): Madhavaram – Sholinganallur

• Length: 47.0 km (41.17 km elevated & 5.83 km underground)
• Depot: Madhavaram
• Number of Stations: Forty-Eight (41 elevated, 1 at-grade & 6 underground)
• Stations: Madhavaram Milk Colony (interchange with Line-3), Venugopal Nagar, Assisi Nagar, Manjambakkam, Velmurugan Nagar, MMBT, Shastri Nagar, Reteeri Junction, Kolathur Junction, Srinivasa Nagar, Villivakkam Metro, Villivakka, Bus Terminus, Nadhamuni, Anna Nagar Depot, Thirumangalam, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Grain Market, Sai Nagar Bus Stop, Elango Nagar Bus Stop, Alwartiru Nagar, Valasaravakkam, Karabakkam, Alapakkam, Porur Junction, Mugalivakkam, DLF IT SEZ, Sathya Nagar, CTC, Butt Road, Alandur (interchange with Line-1 and Line-2), St Thomas Mount (interchange with Line-2), Adambakkam, Vanuvampet, Puzhuthivakkam, Madipakkam, Kilkattalai, Echangadu, Kovilabakkam, Vellakkal, Medavakkam Koot Road, Kamraj Garden Street, Medavakkam Junction, Perumbakkam, Global Hospital, Elcot, Sholinganallur
• Estimated Project Cost: $708.64 million
• Financing Plan: AIIB: USD 438.75 million (62%), ADB: USD 114.1 million (16%), Govt. of TN: USD 155.88 million (22%)

Latest Update

The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (Cumta) has advised Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to expand metro connectivity until Kuthambakkam, where a high-tech bus terminal shall become functional and operational soon. Further, construction on Phase 2 of the project is well underway, with metro rail tracks being built in the most difficult and challenging locations.

Cumta has proposed that CMRL extend metro services to Kuthabakkam, where a transit hub is slated to be opened. The terminal has been proposed to serve all buses travelling to western areas such as Krishnagiri and Bangalore. The extension of metro services would provide proper connectivity to key areas of the city. The Old Mahabalipuram Road (ORR) is also planned to become a metro rail hub, as numerous lines run via the main road at significant intersections such as Sholinganallur and Thoraipakkam. These interchanges allow passengers to change trains and travel to different regions of the city. The Chennai metro route is also expected to improve after connectivity to ECR, and Velachery is completed as part of Phase 2.

Six metro stations have recently been eliminated from Phase 2 of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited project, saving around Rs. 1,200 crores. Thapal Petti, Doveton, and St. Joseph’s College on the Madhavaram Milk Colony-Siruseri Sipcot Corridor-3, and Foreshore Estate, Natesan Park, and Meenakshi College on the Lighthouse-Poonamallee Bypass Corridor-4 are among the six omitted stations in Phase 2. According to the CMRL Spokesperson, one of the reasons for the elimination of these stations had been their close proximity to each other. The second reason was that the projected Thapal Petti station was required to be developed, having a steep and sharp curve, which might have made the maintenance problematic.

By making improvements such as swapping stabling lines for train parking for the maintenance depot originally intended for Siruseri SIPCOT, the project cost reduced from Rs 89,000 crore to Rs 61,843 crore. In addition, several stations have been transformed from underground to elevated, and the size of the stations has been lowered by nearly twenty-five per cent compared to Phase 1 stations.

The Madhavaram-Taramani stretch of the Chennai Metro has been delayed by about a year and a half. The length will not be completed until 2028. Metro Phase II is projected to have a network length of 118.9 kilometres and 128 stations. Corridor-3 connects Madhavaram to SIPCOT (45.8 km), Corridor-4 connects Lighthouse to Poonamalle Bypass (26.1 km), and Corridor-5 connects Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (47 km).

Madhavaram to Taramani is a significant part of the Madhavaram-SIPCOT corridor, which runs through numerous prominent areas such as Perambur, Chetpet, Nungambakkam, Gemini, Thousand Lights, Royapettah, Mandaiveli, Adyar, and Taramani. The Phase II project is expected to cost Rs 63,246 crore. A substantial portion of the project’s finance came from an international bank loan, but the loan terms had been stringent, necessitating the alteration of some benchmarks in order to invite more organisations to join and participate. It has been a protracted process, and the Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) just recently acquired final approval from the bank.

The Madhavaram-Taramani segment would be built underground, according to CMRL authorities. However, the construction of stations has been hampered by tunnelling work, resulting in a setback. To promote faster execution by contractors, the CMRL has split and divided the work to build stations between Madhavaram and Taramani into six tenders. The six aforementioned packages are Madhavaram to Perambur, Ayanavaram to Kellys, KMC to Royapettah, Radhakrishnan Salai to Adyar, Adyar to Taramani, and Kolathur to Nathamuni. According to CMRL authorities, tunnelling between Madhavaram and Taramani is moving along nicely. Six tenders were issued in December 2021 to construct stations along this section. Unfortunately, bidders provided expensive bids, forcing the tender to be cancelled.

To address this issue, CMRL had to issue fresh tenders and change the loan terms in order to entice more enterprises to bid and deliver affordable prices. According to CMRL officials, these procedures will help to shorten the bidding process and guarantee the project is completed on schedule. The bidding procedure for selecting contractors for the construction of stations around the defined region is almost complete, and officials expect to announce the chosen individuals and party soon.