Page 32 - CO April 2017 Full Issue

InteractIon COVER STORY Powered by In order to meet the future traffic demand, the expansion of mass transit corridor is imperative Chennai Metropolis has been growing rapidly and the traffic volumes on the roads have also increased enormously. The need of the hour is a new rail based rapid transport system that will provide the people of Chennai with a fast, reliable, convenient, efficient, modern and economical mode of public transport, which is properly integrated with other forms of public and private transport including buses, sub-urban trains and MRTS. PANKAJ KUMAR BANSAL, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CHENNAI METRO RAIL LTD spoke to CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES on the current status of the project and future opportunities Please brief us on the current status of the What are the expected long-term impacts energy-efcient. To summarise, a Metro metro rail project. and opportunities from the Project? system: In order to improve the Public Transport In most urban areas traffic congestion • Requires 1/5 energy per passenger km th share and provide sustainable urban is increasing significantly due to the compared to road-based system transportation system, the Government of rapid growth of the private vehicles, • Reduces journey time by anything Tamil Nadu has decided to implement the urbanisation and decreasing share of Public between 50 per cent and 75 per cent Chennai Metro Rail Project. Transportation. depending on road conditions Te Phase-1 of Chennai Metro Rail Project Te present share of public transportation • Carries same amount of traffic as operation covers a length of 45.046 km for Chennai city is 31 per cent, and its 7 lanes of bus trafc or 24 lanes of network and consists of two corridors share has been declining when compared private motor cars (either way), if it is a i.e. Corridor-1 – From Washermenpet to with the past. Te Metro rail system can medium capacity system. Airport (23.085 Km), Corrridor-2 – From support for the increase in share of Public • Causes no air pollution and lesser noise Chennai Central to St.Thomas Mount Transport system. Further, the Metro rail level in the city (21.961 Km). About 55 per cent of the project would generate signifcant direct • Occupies no road space if underground corridors in Phase-I is underground and and indirect employment for skilled, semi- and only about 2 meter width of the the remaining elevated. The section of skilled and unskilled workforce. As Metro road if elevated elevated corridor is fully operational now Transport system is completely pollution • Is more reliable, comfortable and safer (i.e. Corridor-2: Koyambedu to St.Tomas free, it will improve the air quality for than road based system Mount and Corridor-1: Airport to Little citizen. Mount). The remaining underground Expected cost of the project and fund sections will be operationalised in three How will construction of the metro rail disbursed so far (Rs.in Crores) stages by the end of June 2018. Phase-1 project impact the community? Phase-1 extension with length of 9 Km also has Metro systems are superior to other modes Phase-1 Extension been taken up recently and underground because they provide higher carrying works have started. Entire Project will be capacity, faster, smoother and safer travel, Cost of Project 19058 3770 completed by 2019. occupy less space, are non-polluting and Funds Disbursed 13305 311 34 construction opportunities|aPrIL 2017