Chennai metro charts out ₹85,047-cr expansion

In an attempt to start the construction of the Phase-II of the metro project, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) begins the process of acquiring land required to build the ambitious 107.55km metro project at an investment of ₹85,047 crore. The project, which is awaiting Centre's nod, is aimed at linking the northern and southern suburbs with the city centre, official sources said, claiming that the authorities have started issuing notices to owners of properties located in Madhavaram, Sembium, Perumbur and Otteri, where corridor 3 and 5 has been planned. Construction work on the project will begin in a section of these corridors soon. In the ongoing process, corridor 3 will link Madhavaram Milk Colony with Siruseri Sipcot, passing through major localities such as Perumbur, Chetpet, Royapettah, Mandaveli, Adyar, Thiruvanmiyur and OMR. Corridor 5 will link Madhavaram with Sholinganallur via Kolathur, Villivakkam, Maduravoyal, Valsarvakkam, Adambakkam and Perumbakkam. Since nearly 80% of the phase will be underground, the project would require around 86 acres compared to phase-1. Some more land will be taken over on a temporary basis for storing construction equipment and to drill shafts to install tunnel boring machines, claimed sources.