Metro Rail: Two stretches to be ready by 2015

CHENNAI: The elevated stretch from Koyambedu to St Thomas Mount, a part of the ambitious Metro Rail project in Chennai, is expected to be completed by the end of 2013 and the underground stretch of Metro Rail from Washermenpet to Saidapet may be completed by the end of 2015, according to highly placed sources in Chennai Metro Rail.The sources told City Express that preliminary work was being carried out in Washermenpet, where the soil test was being conducted. “Before the tunneling work starts by December-end, we will be carrying out soil tests and then going for utility shafts and box construction, which will take six months,” he added.Gammon — OJSC Mosmetrostroy has been awarded two prestigious projects of design and construction of underground stations, and associated tunnels for Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), worth `1,947 crore. These projects are part of the five tender packages floated by the CMRL for design and construction of underground stations and associated tunnels, covering a total length of 18km and 19 underground stations. The scope of work for both packages involve construction of seven underground stations at Government Estate, LIC building, Thousand Lights, Gemini, Teynampet, Chamiers Road and Saidapet, along with twin bored tunnels covering a total length of over 6.4km (6,474 metres).CMRL sources also said that talks were on to resolve the deadlock over the acquisition of land near Koyambedu market for the construction of the Metro Rail depot. Negotiations between Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Chennai Metro Rail Limited and Market Management Committee, are on to acquire market land for the Metro Rail depot after the initial plan, where more than 100 shops will be hit, was rejected. “We expect to resolve the deadlock soon.  Except some issues over a small stretch of market land, all other lands have been acquired for the project,” he said.To a query on the traffic snarls due to the Metro Rail work in the Koyambedu stretch, he said that things would be resolved soon. However, he quickly added that the real cause of traffic snarls in Koyambedu currently, was the installation of underground cables of the 230kg electricity board. “The roads have been dug in the stretch for the ongoing works,” he added.