Chennai Metro Rail Phase II: CMRL Finalises Contracts For Underground Stations Along Madhavaram-Taramani Stretch

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has secured contracts to commence work on underground stations along the Madhavaram-Taramani stretch of the phase II project, which has been pending for long.

The expansion of Metro Phase-II is planned with a network length of 118.9 km with 128 stations. It consists of three corridors, namely Corridor-3 from Madhavaram to SIPCOT (45.8 km), Corridor-4 from Lighthouse to Poonamalle Bypass (26.1 km), Corridor-5 from Madhavaram at Sholinganallur (47 km).

The estimated cost of the Phase-II project is‌‌ Rs 63,246 crore.

The construction of Corridor-3 entails both underground and elevated tracks, running from Madhavaram to Taramani and then SIPCOT, respectively.

While tunnelling began a few months back in Madhavaram, the building of underground stations along this stretch endured a year long delay.

In December 2021, CMRL cancelled five tenders it had floated to construct these stations as the proposed costs were deemed too high, leading to stalled progress in this crucial transport project.

To increase bidders, the CMRL modified the loan agreement after realizing the stretch was mostly funded by an international bank.

CMRL officials have selected three contractors to construct the underground stations on the Madhavaram-Taramani line, which was divided into five packages for tenders, including Madhavaram-Perambur, Ayanavaram-Kellys, and KMC-Royapettah.

Dinesh Chandra Agarwal Infracon Pvt Ltd and Soma Enterprises won the Madhavaram-Perambur line's contract with the lowest bid in a joint venture.

Tata Projects received the contract for the Ayanavaram-Kellys stretch with the lowest bid. Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. secured the remaining contracts for KMC-Royapettah, Dr Radhakrishnan Salai-Adyar Junction, and Adyar Depot-Taramani.

Discussions will be held soon, contracts will be awarded to respective companies, with three years given for the construction of underground stations, according to CMRL officials.