Construction for phase-2 metro rail corridors has just commenced in some locations, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has begun procuring critical equipment required for driverless train, to get the 118.9km lines ready in less than five years.
In October, CMRL floated four tenders to procure tracks, overhead equipment (OHE), telecommunication and other systems required for remote monitoring and control and for efficient train operations. During the state budget, it was announced that the phase-2 metro rail project will be completed by 2025.
Already, preconstruction and construction on ground have commenced within the city and at suburban localities that will be linked on corridor-3 from Madhavaram to Siruseri Sipcot and corridor-4 from Light House to Poonamallee.
“The 2025 deadline is stressed upon in every meeting and all efforts are being taken to meet the deadline,” an metrorail official said.
The major tenders floated in October include tracks for corridor-5 between CMBT and Elcot and for corridor-3 between Sholinganallur and Sipcot as well as for stabling or parking trains after daily service. Tenders were also floated for procuring and installation of OHE, which will supply power to the driverless trains, along corridor-3 between Madhavaram Milk Colony and Sholinganallur and on corridor-5 from Madhavaram to CMBT and for the depot at Madhavaram.
Other tenders include design, installation and commissioning of telecommunication radio systems needed for train operations and other systems like Scada or supervisory control and data acquisition, a software that allows remote monitoring and control of all the systems.
The procurement comes at a time when on ground piling work to build the foundation pillars for elevated lines have started in Porur and pre-construction work has commenced in other locations including Poonamallee, Purasaiwalkam, Thiruvanmiyur, Adyar and Royapettah. More than half of the 19 construction tenders floated are either awarded or in the final stages while the rest are on various stages of the process.