• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Chennai Metro News: Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) is bringing a unique design to Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), where metro trains will run through commercial buildings, with the tracks located as high as the sixth floor. The Sholinganallur station will serve as a major interchange point connecting Corridor 3 (Madhavaram–SIPCOT) and Corridor 5 (Madhavaram–Sholinganallur).

Sholinganallur to Serve as Major Interchange

According to officials, the Sholinganallur station will be a tall structure, around 35 metres high, similar to the Alandur metro station. Corridor 3 will run at the lower level and Corridor 5 above it. Trains from Corridor 5 will descend to the level of Corridor 3 to enable smooth interchange. The station will have four entry and exit points for easy commuter movement.

ALSO READ: Chennai Weather: City To See Moderate Rain; IMD Issues Yellow Alert For Multiple Tamil Nadu Districts | Forecast

Commercial Complexes Planned at Metro Stations

CMRL is also planning a large commercial block next to the station towards the Elcot–ECR side. This space will be used for shops and retail outlets and will be built on an additional land parcel owned by CMRL.

Sky Bridges to Link Trains with Shops and Offices

At Thoraipakkam, a similar design is being planned, although on a smaller scale. Both stations will have sky bridges connecting different floors of the buildings. These areas will also be rented out for commercial use like offices and shops. Metro viaducts will pass directly through these buildings, making them fully integrated metro-commercial hubs.

ALSO READ: Chennai, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Kanyakumari Other Districts To Witness Rain, Thunderstorms As IMD Issues Yellow Alert

Entry Points Realigned for Seven OMR Stations

CMRL is also redesigning entry and exit points for seven other stations along OMR. These include Nehru Nagar, Perungudi, Okkiyampet, Karapakkam, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, Kadanchavadi and PTC Colony. In earlier metro designs, entrances were built on pedestrian pathways. However, due to heavy traffic and space issues along OMR, the new design moves access points away from footpaths and onto newly acquired plots.

This design upgrade has increased project costs by Rs 300 crore for the eight stations. Still, CMRL says the move is important to manage passenger flow in the future. The stacked structure could also allow train services to start on the OMR stretch even before the Madhavaram depot is ready.