CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has opened two new stations for public use in the phase I extension project between Washermenpet and Wimco Nagar on 13th March 2022, Sunday. It has been more than a year since services have started in this Northern section of the metro line.
On Sunday the trains started as usual but made stops at Tiruvottiyur Theradi and Wimco Nagar Depot stations. These stations were certified safe to begin operations by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety previously but the services only started there on Sunday after careful consideration. According to sources, not many people were aware of the opening on Sunday therefore there were not a lot of users at both these stations.
On Sunday, about 1,500 passengers travelled from the Tiruvottiyur Theradi station till 9 p.m. and about 400 from the Wimco Nagar Depot station. In addition, the frequency of trains at the Wimco Nagar Depot station was lower throughout the day due to technical constraints.
CMRL is offering free parking for commuters using the Wimco Nagar Depot station till the end of March. The construction of the Tiruvottiyur Theradi station had not finished in February 2021 when the phase I extension stretch started operations. According to the sources it has taken over 12 months to complete the construction of just one station because of several reasons.