Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is working day and night to complete a 6-km metro stretch between Vadapalani and the Poonamallee depot under Phase II. According to CMRL Director M.A. Siddique, trial runs on this section are planned for mid-January.
Around 4,000 workers and 57 cranes have been deployed to speed up the work on the city’s first double-decker metro corridor. About 3,000 workers are involved in building the viaduct and deck slabs, 600 are working on track-laying, and 400 are handling traction and signalling work.
CMRL officials said commercial metro services on this stretch are expected to start by the end of January or early February. Seven special teams are working on track-laying, completing about 300 metres of track every day. To increase speed, workers have been moved from other metro corridors to this section.
Officials added that 99% of the work between Poonamallee and Porur has been completed. The corridor has also received an interim safety certificate from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO).
In the beginning, there will be no intermediate stations between Vadapalani and Porur. The stations along this corridor are expected to be ready by June. Visible construction progress at Vadapalani station is expected within the next 10 days.