Jan 10, 2020 / The Times Of India
CHENNAI: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will fund the construction of nearly 18km elevated stretch between Meenakshi College in Kodambakkam and Poonamallee Bypass, which is part of Chennai Metro Rail Limited’s (CMRL) ambitious 118.9km 3-corridor phase-2 project.
The Beijing-headquartered bank will fund around Rs 2,306 crore ($320 million) to build the stretch linked by 18 elevated stations.
“We will call for tenders in another two to three months. A detailed design consultant, who will design the stations and the line, is already on the job. Soil test on this stretch is also completed,” an official said.
The stretch between Meenakshi College and Poonamallee bypass is part of 26.1km corridor 4 from Light House to Poonamallee Bypass. The stretch will link localities like Porur, Iyyappanthangal, Kattupakkam, Kumananchavadi, Karayanchavadi and Poonamallee which are otherwise not linked with good public transportation.Officials said Asian Development Bank will fund the rest of the corridor between Light House and Meenakshi College covering around 8km.
Earlier, CMRL planned corridor 4 between Light House and CMBT linking core areas of the city including Mylapore, Adyar, Nandanam, T Nagar a Kodambakkam and Vadapalani. But they later extended the line to cover localities like Porur, Iyappanthangal, Kumanan Cahvadfi, Karayan Chavadi and Poonamallee, which were earlier planned to be part of monorail project, as studies found that the passenger traffic was high which could be handled only by metrorail services.
Construction for a 52km corridor in the phase is expected to begin in June. Tunnelling will be carried out on two stretches - from Venugopal Nagar in Madhavaram to Kellys covering 9km and from Kellys to Taramani Road Junction covering 12km. CMRL has invited tenders for the work.
The 52km stretch between Madhavaram and Sholinganallur and Madhavaram to CMBT will be funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).