Chennai Metro: CMRL To Finalise DPRs For Kilambakkam And Parandur Metro Projects Soon

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has announced that it will prioritise the development of two key metro rail projects: the 15.3-km Airport-Kilambakkam stretch and the 43.63-km Poonamallee-Parandur corridor.

These projects aim to improve connectivity to South Chennai and address traffic congestion, especially around the Kilambakkam Bus Terminus and the proposed Parandur Second Airport.

The Airport-Kilambakkam project has faced delays despite the submission of its Detailed Project Report (DPR) two years ago. CMRL officials revealed that the DPR required revisions three months ago to accommodate changes in infrastructure planning.

The updated report, along with the DPR for the Poonamallee-Parandur project, will soon be submitted to the Tamil Nadu government after consultations with the Highways Department and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), reports The Hindu.

One significant revision to the Airport-Kilambakkam project involves integrating the metro viaduct with an elevated road corridor planned by the State Highways Department.

The elevated corridor, extending from the Airport to Tambaram, will feature a two-tier structure, with the road on the first level and the metro on the second. This design aims to optimize space and reduce construction redundancies.

Additionally, discussions are underway to integrate flyovers in Tambaram, Pallavaram, and Perungalathur with the metro system. A station at Vandalur is also planned along the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road, although NHAI officials stated their approval might not be required since the construction will not encroach on NHAI-owned land.

The Poonamallee-Parandur project, which connects to the proposed second airport, also requires alignment with an elevated road corridor planned between Poonamallee and Sriperumbudur. CMRL is working closely with the Highways Department to synchronise designs for seamless integration.

In a recent high-level meeting, officials from the State and Central governments highlighted the urgency of these projects to address South Chennai’s growing traffic congestion and improve accessibility. CMRL officials affirmed their commitment to expediting the process.