Chennai Metro achieves over 80% land acquisition milestone for Phase 2 corridors

MRT Online Desk Posted on: 2023-01-29 07:30:00 Viewer: 1,636 Comments: 0 Country: India City: Chennai

Chennai Metro achieves over 80% land acquisition milestone for Phase 2 corridors (Image Copyright: Metro Rail Today)

Chennai, India (Metro Rail Today): Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), the excuting authority for modern metro rail systems in Chennai, has informed that it has acquired early 82% of the land needed for the Chennai Metro Phase 2 project.

"The 118.9-km project needs 112.72 hectares of land. Of this, we have acquired nearly 93 hectares of land. In the remaining portion, including some pockets like Kaliamman Koil Street, Vadapalani and Arcot Road, we need to acquire land. In some areas, we are facing some challenges. But we are trying to finish it soon since the contractors want to take over the project site for construction,” said an official.

"For Phase 2 project, being executed at a cost of ₹61,843 crore, steps were taken to make land acquisition easy and quick," he added. For instance, the size of the stations has been significantly pruned when compared to Phase 1 project. While the size of stations measured 220 metres in Phase 1, this was scaled down to just 150 metres in Phase 2. Similarly, as against four entry and exit points in stations in Phase 1, each station will have only two entry and exit points in Phase 2.

“We took a lot of effort while planning to ensure that we don’t take over private land. Only in cases where it is inevitable, we resort to using private land,” said another official.

At present, CMRL is stepping up efforts to first open the stretch between Poonamallee and Power House of Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase 2 within three years.

Of the total 407 piers that need to be built, only 70 have been constructed so far. “The work is in full swing right now. Casting works are in progress at a yard site. Erection of precast structures, like pier caps and u-girders, are in progress at the site as well. Every effort is being taken to ensure the work is completed in time, duly taking the need for public transport into consideration,” an official said.