Metro Rail to provide 23 multi-modal transit hubs

When Phase-2 Metrorail trains start running in 2025, passengers

can seamlessly switch from metro trains to MTC buses, suburban

and MRTS trains, or Metrorail phase-1 lines, as Chennai Metro Rail

Limited (CMRL) is planning to have multi-modal hubs in 23

locations.

These hubs are planned as part of the 116.1km phase-2network and

will be in stages from 2025 to 2028. In Thiruvanmiyur and

Thirumayilai, the Metro stations will be linked to the MRTS stations,

while Mandaveli and Madhavaram, the metro stations will be linked

to bus depots.

There will be nine hubs on the 45.4km corridor-3 from Madhavaram

to Siruseri Sipcot. They will come up at Thiruvanmiyur, Adyar bus

depot, Mandaveli, Thirumayilai, Chetpet, Ayanavaram, Perambur

suburbs, Kilpauk, and Thousand Lights.

On the 26.1km corridor-4 from Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass,

there will be five hubs in Kodambakkam, Iyyappanthangal,

Poonamallee bus terminus, Nandanam, and Vadapalani.

On the 44.6km corridor-5, there will be nine hubs at Madhavaram

bus terminus, Villivakkam bus terminus, Anna Nagar, Koyambedu,

Alandur, St Thomas Mount Villivakkam Vanuvampet, and Kilkattalai

Officials said the plan is to make switching between different

facilities hassle-free by bringing all modes of transport closer to

each other. In phase two MTC bus stops were shifted closer to some

metro stations.

“We have planned facilities such as covered walkways, passages,

lifts, escalators, parking, signage, and kiosks at these hubs,” said

CMRL spokesperson L Girirajan.

Commuters still find it a hassle to switch to other transport modes

from the existing hubs in phase 1. At Guindy, passengers must walk

a long distance to get to the bus stop from the metro station.

Standard last-mile connectivity is still absent across all 41 metro

stations.

CMRL had floated tenders to modernize and redevelop MTC bus

depot cum termini with space for commercial development as part

of plans to integrate them with the phase-2 stations.

In Oct 2022, CMRL initiated efforts to design and construct a

multimodal facility complex at the Broadway bus stand with

facilities such as bus bays, commercial spaces, parking spaces for

government and private buses, and vehicles for commuters on 4.42-

acre land.

“The multimodal hub will include an intermodal transport facility

with an interchanging hub for inter-city and intra-city buses and

other facilities approved by GCC,” Girirajan says

When phase 2 of the metro rail opens in Chennai, driverless trains

will pass over 63 steel bridges. These bridges are being installed in

locations where concrete viaducts cannot be built due to the

presence of structures, roads, or restricted areas below.

The steel girders require less depth than concrete girders and can

be set up faster. The installation is carried out during night hours to

minimize traffic disruption. Heavy lifting equipment and continuous

monitoring are required for the construction.

Many spots on the eastern side of RK Math Road in Mandaveli zone

are witnessing hectic civil work related to the Chennai Metro rail

project Scores of workers, with the support from accessories and

equipment have dug a series of eight meters-deep pits and installed

the ground settlement meters inside them These meters will record

data on the behavior of the ground when the drilling machine is at

work underground. The rail line running north to south in Phase 2

of the project) will not be laid under the R. K. Mutt Road zone but on

the eastern side