Chennai Metro Phase II Plan Undergoes Modifications: Nine Stations Scrapped And Length Trimmed

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has recently announced its decision to scrap plans for the construction of nine stations in phase II. This move comes after the Madras High Court ordered CMRL to publish the updated route alignment map on its website a few days ago.

CMRL has uploaded the map in accordance with this directive.

The three corridors of the Phase II project have now been modified. Corridor 3 from Madhavaram to SIPCOT, which was previously 45.8 km long, will now be 45.4 km long.

Corridor 5 from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur, which was 47 km long, has been reduced to 44.6 km. However, the length of Corridor 4 between Poonamallee and Light House remains 26.1 kilometres.

The changes made to the original plan have brought down the total length of Phase 2 from 118.9 km to 118.1 km, while also reducing the total number of stations from 127 to 118.

The released route map indicates that stations such as Thapalpetti, Doveton Junction, and St Joseph's College have been removed from corridor 3.

The decision to remove Porur Junction from Corridor 5 was made due to a change in alignment. The double-decker elevated line that linked corridors 4 and 5 featured five interchange stations, with Porur Junction originally being part of these stations.

However, officials decided to retain the station on Corridor 4 and remove it from Corridor 5. Commuters who want to switch corridors in the double-decker stretch may have to switch at Alapakkam instead.

The removal of these stations does not mean that any particular location has been skipped in phase II. On the contrary, the plan has been revised to ensure that stations are placed at a distance of one kilometre from each other along the corridors, reports Times Of India.

In addition, a new elevated station at Koyambedu has been added, replacing the CMBT station. The Madhavaram Milk Colony will also be considered a single station, as this is the originating station for corridors 3 and 5.

The relocation is necessary due to land-acquisition issues, but commuters will still be able to access the stations without having to walk long distances, according to CMRL officials.

The CMRL official added, "We have also covered all the localities or areas we had planned in the initial stage".