Source : Times of India | Dated : Aug 8, 2024
Chennai: In a few years, when the greenfield airport at Parandur opens to the public, flyers can go there from the existing airport at Meenambakkam by a metro train in less than an hour. A feasibility study is on for a metro line from the existing airport to Poonamallee via Kundrathur and Thiruneermalai covering around 16km. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has already planned a 43.63km extension line from Poonamallee to Parandur airport for which a detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared.
CMRL officials said Aarvee Associates Architects Engineers and Consultants Pvt Ltd, which is preparing DPR for the extension line from Poonamallee to Parandur, will also prepare the detailed feasibility report before 2024-end.
When the two airports are linked, flyers getting to Parandur from Meenambakkam may have to switch platforms at Poonamallee metro which will become an interchange station. They can also board a train in any of the phase-1 stations and travel to Parandur airport. “DPR for the Airport metro-Poonamallee line may not be required as the line connecting the two airports is a must. The DFR will be submitted along with the DPR for the Poonamallee-Parandur extension line by November 2024,” a CMRL official said.
While densely populated localities such as Kundrathur could add to the footfalls, officials said they may have very few stations between the existing airport and Poonamallee. “Because the idea is to reach from one airport to the other in an hour.”
The proposed Poonamallee-Parandur line, via Thirumazhisai and Sriperumbudur, will have around 19 elevated metro stations. It will be an extension of the 26.1km corridor-4 of phase-2 from Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass.
The 1.74 crore contract to prepare the DPR for Poonamallee-Parandur metro line was awarded recently considering developments such as the proposed airport at Parandur, the proposed bus terminus at Thirumazhisai and the future growth potential along the corridor. “The DPR would involve drilling 100 boreholes for soil investigation and topographical survey using drones for the entire length. Following an extensive alignment study during the DPR stage, the total number of stations and the details of land requirements will be finalised,” a release had said.
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