Chennai Metro Project [Archive] - Page 22

natarajan1986

December 31st, 2011, 08:08 AM

^^^

Translation :
* There are about 14 stations elevated out of which tirusolam and airport have not started and remaining are going in good speed
* It specifies the exact location of each station like guindy near suburban station,alandur opposite to school ,sipcot opp to hilton hotel etc
* st thomas will be huge
* remaining are just the recap of 45km out of which blah blah

______________________________________________________________________________

Metro rail has kicked-started the process of building stations and viaduct on the 4.3km corridor from the Officers Training Academy(OTA)toChennai airport.
“We have started soil investigations at different locations along GST Road and once they are completed, work on stations and viaduct will begin,” said a senior Chennai Metro Rail official. Haryana-based Lanco Infratech has bagged the 178.94-crore contract for the corridor.
Soil investigation will be conducted again to decide whether there should be any change in the way the piles and pillars areconstructed.
The contract for the stretch was the last to be awarded because construction of the elevated corridor had run into problems after the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said the line would affect flight safety as it runs under the flight approach pathtothesecondary runway. The AAI gave a no-objection certificate after metro rail agreed to take the line below surfaceunder theflightpath.
“Wedecidedtobuild a boxtype channel to keep the line under the surface for 500m so that flight safety is not affected,” a metro rail official said. The change in design will cost an additional 50 crore.
As soon asthelineenters the airport campus it will dip to go underground attheGSTRoad endof thesecondary runway. Itwill again climbto reachthe levelof theelevatedMeenambakkam metro station in the middleof GST road.
The contractor will build two 380m-long ramps—oneto take the line underground from OTAstation andtheother to take the line above groundto reachMeenambakkam station.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOICH/2011/12/31/2/Img/Pc0021400.jpg

The contract was the last to be awarded as the AAI raised objections against the elevated line

Source (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2011/12/31&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00205&ViewMode=HTML)

anekho

December 31st, 2011, 08:36 AM

Single-ticket smart cards for bus, train travel on the anvil

CHENNAI: The process of preparing smart cards for commuters of different modes of public transport has been initiated by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation. The cards, to be issued under the aegis of the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (Cumta), can be used as a single ticket for buses and trains fitted with smart card readers.

Potential consultants have presented prototypes of the cards, shaped like regular credit cards, to MTC. They will be prepaid cards.

"Commuters will tap the card at the reader while boarding or alighting a bus/train. Based on the distance travelled, the fare will be deducted," an MTC official said. "As a first step, we plan to gauge the public readiness for the project. There is a lot to do," said a senior MTC official.

The scheme will reduce the need for waiting in queues while switching over different modes of public transport. Apart from making life easier for commuters in an integrated network, experts say Cumta will foster better cooperation and coordination among different transport agencies in the city.

"As of now, there are MTC and MRTS while in future metro rail and mono rail will be added. The Cumta will be above these agencies and is expected to come up with better plans to share revenue and routes," said Raj Cherubal, amember of the working group in Cumta. "The Cumta could also include para-transit modes like share autos," he said. Feeder buses to railway stations and dedicated bus lanes will also come under the ambit of the authority.

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/11311838.cms)

prabhu007

December 31st, 2011, 09:26 AM

The process of preparing smart cards for commuters of different modes of public transport has been initiated by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation. The cards, to be issued under the aegis of the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (Cumta), can be used as a single ticket for buses and trains fitted with smart card readers.

Potential consultants have presented prototypes of the cards, shaped like regular credit cards, to MTC. They will be prepaid cards.

"Commuters will tap the card at the reader while boarding or alighting a bus/train. Based on the distance travelled, the fare will be deducted," an MTC official said. "As a first step, we plan to gauge the public readiness for the project. There is a lot to do," said a senior MTC official.

The scheme will reduce the need for waiting in queues while switching over different modes of public transport. Apart from making life easier for commuters in an integrated network, experts say Cumta will foster better cooperation and coordination among different transport agencies in the city.

"As of now, there are MTC and MRTS while in future metro rail and mono rail will be added. The Cumta will be above these agencies and is expected to come up with better plans to share revenue and routes," said Raj Cherubal, amember of the working group in Cumta. "The Cumta could also include para-transit modes like share autos," he said. Feeder buses to railway stations and dedicated bus lanes will also come under the ambit of the authority.

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Single-ticket-smart-cards-for-bus-train-travel-on-the-anvil/articleshow/11311838.cms)

This is what I am expecting the most. More than Metro or Mono, I am interested in this bcos this is going to prove very vital in the success of metro or mono..

sethumurugan

December 31st, 2011, 11:04 AM

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/11311838.cms)

I think this is perfect system:).

But I think tapping the card is the question mark:ohno:. I think out people have to educated on this.

How about having a seperate TMC busses for such kind of card holders? :bow: Dont hit me...

prabhu007

December 31st, 2011, 03:36 PM

I have created this new thread for discussing about Integration of public transportation in Chennai. Please move to that thread to discuss about this. Please post your views there.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1474402

TShyam

December 31st, 2011, 03:52 PM

The year started with just 7 pillars topped out. Now almost the whole viaduct construction is nearing completion.
All the major contracts given out, the first TBM's arrived, Koyambedu yard which was just awarded a year ago proceeding at a fast clip, station constructions started, the two tier flyover at Vadapalani proceeding fast, lots of litigations settled..

Quite a satisfactory year although it could have been better particularly with the pace of viaduct construction from Soma. Looking forward to an eventful 2012 when the TBM's will start their churning, rails and OHE's will get installed, stations will take shape, and as usual we will keep fighting metro vs mono.

Happy 2012 everybody. Hope the Mayans weren't right and we will see the dawn of 2013 and hopefully the first trial run of Chennai metro :)

Raji7373

December 31st, 2011, 08:01 PM

Happy 2012 everybody. Hope the Mayans weren't right and we will see the dawn of 2013 and hopefully the first trial run of Chennai metro :)

Sure we will see 2013 and will be wishing all Happy new year 2013.

Now - Let us welcome 2012 and Happy new year to all SSCians. :banana:

prabhu007

January 1st, 2012, 07:59 AM

Happy new year to all fellow SSCI members!! :)

natarajan1986

January 1st, 2012, 02:16 PM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/406519_316293201737807_118055624894900_1075384_72272503_n.jpg
Source - The Hindu
This is how map looks if phase II approved:banana:

natarajan1986

January 1st, 2012, 05:42 PM

cross posting from delhi metro thread

few videos i found :cry:

3VaMxgt-zZ8

euiFfCbcN1U

Ke3iz6Tg0Nc

bonoslack7

January 2nd, 2012, 07:18 AM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/406519_316293201737807_118055624894900_1075384_72272503_n.jpg
Source - The Hindu
This is how map looks if phase II approved:banana:

Phase 2 is a brilliant plan (except red hills - tirumangalam). Hope Jayalolita sheds some ego.

ferrari_fan

January 2nd, 2012, 09:05 AM

arun82

January 2nd, 2012, 09:17 AM

Phase 2 is a brilliant plan (except red hills - tirumangalam). Hope Jayalolita sheds some ego.

Redhills -tirumangalam stretch is cut parrallely by the Sub urban train except for that there is no big public transport in the stretch. It has everything required for being a huge residential suburban with a industrial belt in between ( ambattur) . It has the mix of white and blue coller jobs.

I would like the redhills-moolakadai line to extend till Central. The area is very congested and will require huge aqsuition of pvt land but can cover crowded areas like purasai, perumbur, vepery etc

anekho

January 2nd, 2012, 09:19 AM

Chennai: Bye bye metro rail; hello monorail

It was the year when Chennai, chanting the mantra of Metro Rail, turned to the monorail along with the change in power equations in the State. As debates raged over what could be the better option for the city, the expansion of the Metro Rail came to a standstill and the Monorail became a preferred solution with many terming the Metro Rail project a cost intensive one that would take considerable time for completion.

The other argument put forth by the AIADMK government was that with Chennai coming under seismic zone III, the safety of the passengers on the Metro Rail would be under threat as the passage for the rail would be underground. Even as borers arrived earlier this month to drill the underground stretch of the Metro Rail — an action shrouded by protests with residents fearing the boring would affect their buildings — the State government formulated a plan for the first phase of the monorail. A criss-crossing network of four monorail corridors with a length of 111 Km was planned. Interestingly, this will be largest Monorail network in the world. It is believed it will also have the longest network of a 54 Km link between Vandalur and Puzhal.

The corridors were identified by Pallavan Transport Consultancy Services Ltd and bids have been invited to build a monorail network along the four corridors — Vandalur to Puzhal via Avadi; Vandalur to Velachery via Tambaram East (23 Km); Poonamallee to Kathipara via Porur (18 Km); and Poonamallee to Vadapalani via Valasarawakkam (16 Km).

Meanwhile, the Metro Rail project, which was chugging along smoothly during the DMK regime with plans for eight more corridors, was facing pressure over land acquisition, conservation of heritage structures and continuous traffic jams — the last having become a part and parcel of Chennai life.

Land acquisition near the airport, parks of the Chennai Corporation, Koyambedu market and Pachaiyappa’s College was not smooth for the Metro Rail project, which also had to face protests from environmentalists and land owners besides enduring courtroom dramas. Although, nearly all the land was acquired for the project, a blow came in the form of a change in alignment after environmental activists and students opposed the metro station in Pachaiyappa’s College.

The Metro Rail is soon expected to move on to the construction of elevated structures. With the day not far when Chennaiites can choose to travel by Metro Rail or monorail, besides buses, all thank must go to the State’s political masters for offering numerous options for public transport.

Source (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bye-bye-metro-rail-hello-monorail/216913-62-130.html)

arun82

January 2nd, 2012, 09:19 AM

I think it's just a matter of the Poonamallee-Vadapalani line of the monorail impeding the metro - I don't think there are really any other conflicts between the two networks..

With that one segment reconciled in some way I would say everything else fits nicely..

:cheers:

If they also have LRT or trams and some cable cars then Chennai has all the transport systems in the world. Oops I missed POD taxis.

Many people will come to chennai just to experience all types of public transport available in the world.

bonoslack7

January 2nd, 2012, 09:22 AM

^^ of course there will be traffic in redhills/tirumangalam. What I am saying is that particular line is not full fledged and they should plan a longer line on that segment, maybe in phase 3.

mr_madras

January 2nd, 2012, 10:30 AM

moolakadai-redhills-thirumangalam proposal should be modified as under will be very usefull:
Moolakadai-thirumangalam via IRR ( vandalur-phuzal mono to extend till madhavaram)
Ambatur-Mugapair-Thirumangalam even it can be extended to T.Nagar/Gemini via NM road. in that case Mono/metro intersection will be at Ambattur & Madhavaram

vijayvmail

January 3rd, 2012, 06:37 AM

மெட்ரோ ரயில் சுரங்கப் பாதை அமைப்பதற்கு வட்ட வடிவிலான கான்கிரீட் வார்ப்புகள் தயாரிக்கும் பணி துவங்கப்பட உள்ளது. வானகரம், முட்டுக்காடு உள்ளிட்ட இடங்களில் இவை தயாரிக்கப்படுகின்றன. சென்னை மெட்ரோ ரயில் திட்டத்தில், வண்ணாரப்பேட்டை - சைதாப்பேட்டை, சென்ட்ரல் - திருமங்கலம் இடையே சுரங்கப் பாதையில், மெட்ரோ ரயில் பாதை அமைக்கப்பட உள்ளது. சுரங்கப் பாதை அமைப்பதற்கு சீனாவிலிருந்து இரண்டு டனல் போரிங் மிஷின்கள் கடந்த வாரம் வண்ணாரப்பேட்டை மற்றும் ஷெனாய் நகருக்கு வந்தடைந்தன. சுரங்கப் பாதை அமைப்பதற்கு வட்ட வடிவில் கான்கிரீட் வார்ப்புகள் தயாரிப்பதற்கு சீனா மற்றும் கொரியாவிலிருந்து உயர்ரக மோல் டுகள், வானகரம், முட்டுக்காடு மற்றும் வயலநல்லூர் ஆகிய பகுதிக்கு வரவழைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.
கான்கிரீட் வார்ப்புகள் தயாரிப்பு குறித்து மெட்ரோ ரயில் திட்ட இன்ஜினியர் ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது: மெட்ரோ ரயில் திட்டத்தில் 24 கி.மீ., தூரம் பாதை சுரங்கத்தில் அமைகிறது. தரையிலிருந்து 9 மீட்டருக்கு கீழ் சுரங்கப் பாதை அமைகிறது. இச்சுரங்கப் பாதையின் வெளிச் சுற்றளவு 6.2 மீட்டர் விட்டம் கொண்டதாகவும், உட்பகுதி 5.8 மீட்டர் விட்டம் கொண்டதாகவும் அமைக்கப்பட உள்ளது. சுரங்கப் பாதை அமைப்பதற்கு கான்கிரீட் (வட்ட வடிவில்) வார்ப்புகள் தயாரிக்க சீனா மற்றும் கொரியாவிலிருந்து மோல்டுகள் இறக்குமதி செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன. ஒவ்வொரு நிலையத்திலும் சுரங்கப் பாதை அமைப்பதற்கான பள்ளம் தோண்டப்படுவதற்கு மார்ச் மாதம் வரை ஆகும். அதன் பிறகு டனல் போரிங் மிஷின் மூலம் சுரங்கம் தோண்டும் பணி நடக்கும் போதே, கான்கிரீட் சுற்றுச்சுவரும் அமைக்கப்படும். இதற்காக முன்கூட்டியே கான்கிரீட் வார்ப்புகள் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டு, தயாராக வைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கும். இதற்கான நடவடிக்கைகள் துரிதப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. கான்கிரீட் வார்ப்புகள் வானகரம், திருநீர்மலை மற்றும் முட்டுக்காட்டில் தயாரிக்கப்பட உள்ளது. புதிய மோல்டுகளை பயன்படுத்தி தயாரிக்கப்படும் ஒவ்வொரு வட்டவடிவிலான வார்ப்பும் ஆறு துண்டுகளாக 1.2 மற்றும் 1.4 மீட்டர் அகலத்தில் தயாரிக்கப்படும். ஒவ்வொரு வார்ப்பும் முறையான சோதனைக்கு பிறகு, நவீன இயந்திரம் மூலம் வட்ட வடிவில் ஒருங்கிணைத்து சுரங்கப் பாதை அமைக்கப்படும். இவ்வாறு அவர் தெரிவித்தார்.

Source: Dinamalar, chennai edition, dated 03-Jan-2012 (http://www.dinamalar.com/district_detail.asp?id=378282)

Translation:
Pretty much the same things that we've already seen

- Two TBMs have arrived from China
- Moulds for creating concrete segments for Tunnel walls have also arrived from China
- Construction of these concrete segments have comments at yards in Muttukadu and Vanagaram
- Each circular tunnel segment will be constructed as 6 separate segments of 1.4 m by 1.2 m each
- Outer diameter of the tunnel will be 6.2 m and inner diameter will be 5.8 m and tunnels will be, on an average, 9m below surface level
- totally 24 km of metro is underground

arun82

January 3rd, 2012, 09:27 AM

mr_madras

January 3rd, 2012, 10:48 AM

.

Is there any station between Vadapalani to CMBT

Arumbakkam station (MMDA Bus stop)

prabhu007

January 3rd, 2012, 03:26 PM

Arun you are right. The progress does not assure a timely finish. Earlier, I had read an article of Rajaraman, who gave rough time estimates. He had said

> Viaducts and station pillars would be completed by mid of 2012
> Track Laying, Station works and depot works would be completed by End of 2012
> Installation of Signalling and Communication equipments would be completed by mid 2013
> Testing, Trial running, Obtaining safety certifications from CRS by end of 2013
> Inagurating the elevated lines by beginning of 2014
> Some time later I heard that both Koyambedu-Mount and Saidapet-OTA would be opened at the same time.

I have the following questions

> What about the power source? Is any substation being planned for the corridors?
> Already TN, especially Chennai is facing deep power crisis. With JJ in place I am not sure how well she will support the power requirements of metro
> When are the trains arriving? DM got their trains at least 8 months prior to commissioning of the line. They did rigorous testing. Despite all this Phase II had several glitches. Even NM got their trains well ahead of time. So going by the best estimates, we should get the trains, at least a few, by beginning of 2013
>

darkprinz

January 4th, 2012, 06:53 AM

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6632991491_06c97c9f29_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/69876940@N04/6632991491/)
I3519[1] (http://www.flickr.com/photos/69876940@N04/6632991491/) by Venks Varadharajan (http://www.flickr.com/people/69876940@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6632991485_4f8752365f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/69876940@N04/6632991485/)
I3518[1] (http://www.flickr.com/photos/69876940@N04/6632991485/) by Venks Varadharajan (http://www.flickr.com/people/69876940@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6632991481_5a850d2802_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/69876940@N04/6632991481/)
I3517[1] (http://www.flickr.com/photos/69876940@N04/6632991481/) by Venks Varadharajan (http://www.flickr.com/people/69876940@N04/), on Flickr

vinblr

January 4th, 2012, 08:33 AM

kannan infratech

January 4th, 2012, 10:24 AM

Hi,

How is TBM is moved across in station area's to continue tunnelling? Is it by dis-assembly and assembly or by pushing it forward - pushing may be difficult as it excluding backup cars weighs nearly 350 tons ?

Wait for some more time Mate.

A few TBMs have arrived and are being assembled.

The real Tunnel Boring work may start only by March 2012.

Meanwhile I will try to get the info on station areas.

My feeling is that it will be two tunnels connected in between by the station.

prabhu007

January 4th, 2012, 10:35 AM

^^ You're right sir.. 2 tunnels connected in between stations. And all UG stations except Central and Egmore would be having island platforms unlike the elevated lines. All UG stations are to be fitted with PSDs.

vinblr

January 4th, 2012, 10:46 AM

Well, i asked in general - not in w.r.t any city as such.

As i heard, Metro UG Stn's are connected by twin tunnels on either sides.

Wait for some more time Mate.
.
.
My feeling is that it will be two tunnels connected in between by the station.

prabhu007

January 4th, 2012, 11:23 AM

vinblr - I get your question.

Generally they make the station area dug out and ready before the TBM reaches the station. If it drills through one end and breaks through the station concrete wall, it is moved using something called "cradle" to the other end and the tunneling continues.

arun82

January 4th, 2012, 11:41 AM

arun82

January 4th, 2012, 12:05 PM

Update

Soil testing is done by LANCO near meenambakkam runway

4 pillars has to be completed in the OTA station.

1 Pillar has been topped up near ST thomas mount post office.

All buiding between GST road and ST thomas mount station has been demolished and barricadded. Open pit Foundation has been dug in 2 places

2 Pillars erected for St thomas mount station

Both station work and pillar work in progress in Alandur station.

In 2 pillars the second level for Airport line and St thomas mount line has been completed

1 pillar topped opp Le royal meridian

4 Pillars pending in Guindy station-Le royal meridian stretch

Pillar work and portals opp SPIC can be completed in a month's time.

Segment casting commenced opp ITC grand chola.

No progress in Chinna malai stretch

Diapharam wall construction in progress in Saidapet UG site.

Piling for portals in progress till Katipara bridge to SIDCO junction.

Piling for pillars in the service leading to Adyar river on both sides in progress

Segment casting in progress near KK nagar telephone exchange. Can't move forward till portals near Udhayam theatre is completed

Parapet wall construction 70% completed in SIDCO station to Adyar river

Parapet wall construction preparation near Kasi theatre

40% completed in Ashok nagar station by L&T

No progress from Ashok Nagar to Vadapalani

5-6 pillars pending for construction in Vadapalani. No segment casting or station work commenced

Parapet wall construction in Soma part of work is almost 80% completed.

One of the portal has been completed near CMBT busstand.

All pillars from CMBT to Koyambedu market has been completed.

From Koyambedu market to metro yard some pillars has to be completed

Segment casting has commenced inside the CMBT and almost 4-5 has been topped off.

Earth filling Work in the yard is been half completed

Work on pillars from Koyambedu into Cooum river has been commenced . Piling in progress behing Rohini theatre.

Utility line shifting in all UG stations. In egmore and Kilpauk station Diapharam wall construction in progress,

In Saidapet -central line utility shifting in progress in all UG stations.

No digging or lane closure has been done for Underground stretch except thirumangalam stretch.

natarajan1986

January 4th, 2012, 02:10 PM

wow great updates :banana:

natarajan1986

January 4th, 2012, 02:53 PM

The Karnataka government late Tuesday cleared the second phase of the Bangalore Metro project covering 72 km at an estimated cost of Rs 270 billion ($5.1 billion).

But still we have hope for phase II,actually we should be getting metro first but we missed:ohno:

prabhu007

January 4th, 2012, 06:18 PM

Massive updates Arun.. Keep up the good work!! :)

coolmukund

January 4th, 2012, 07:54 PM

L&T has almost completed the SIDCO station work for its part of construction of pillars and viaduct. Now CCCL has brought a excavator and has started digging in the road side for the station. Does elevated station has basement. As far as i understand there will be no parking in the station. Why a basement is required. Also in NM and DM there are 2 floors to a station. But in chennai metro there is no provision in the pillars to support the 2 floor how will the 2nd floor rather the first floor will be supported.

going by the height of the pillars, i think the concourse area will be on the sides and directly connecting to the platforms on the middle of the road. Does not make any sense practically, i guess thats how it will be (something similar to MG road station in bangalore metro)

Vicvin86

January 4th, 2012, 08:00 PM

But still we have hope for phase II,actually we should be getting metro first but we missed:ohno:
We got it in 1930 itself :cheers:

coolmukund

January 4th, 2012, 08:00 PM

With 6 months for the project completion, I am skeptical wheather L&T will be able to complete the St thomas mount-Ashok nagar stretch on time. They have the katipara bridge to be completed. Work just started in St thomas mount alandur stretch and also they are less than 30% in Ashok nagar station . What is deadline for Soma. They have almost 40% work left in CMBT-Koyambedu link.

Is there any station between Vadapalani to CMBT

Don't worry, it will be ready in time. The test runs are scheduled to start only in December 2013. By then the elevated section of corridor 2 will be 100% ready. we still have 2 years to go.

robertashok

January 5th, 2012, 12:31 AM

Source (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bye-bye-metro-rail-hello-monorail/216913-62-130.html)

Boss, 90% of Tokyo Metro is underground.
There will be quake almost every week there.
what bullshit AIADMK people are giving, please invest in right infrastructure.

N.kumar

January 5th, 2012, 04:52 AM

Someone please tell me where the vadapalani elevated road flyover is to descend.

is it before laxman sruthi or after laxman sruthi. I remember reading discussion its before laxman sruthi

Thanks

vijayvmail

January 5th, 2012, 06:45 AM

going by the height of the pillars, i think the concourse area will be on the sides and directly connecting to the platforms on the middle of the road. Does not make any sense practically, i guess thats how it will be (something similar to MG road station in bangalore metro)

I think it is better to have the concourse on the road side and just have a connecting walkway to the platforms. I think there will just be a road overbridge connecting the station concourse on one side and the other side of the road. This will help people just crossing the road also.

In Bangalore and Mumbai metro where many stations have the concourse directly below, over the road, there is a kind of long tunnel effect for the road, making the place kind of dark and dingy. Combined with the level of traffic and pollution on the roads, it will not be a good experience in those stretches. Night time under the tunnels may also be shady.

Compared to that, a road side concourse will be good. If they plan well, they can go in for basement 2 wheeler parking wherever space is there. Even if there is space for 50 bikes, it will be good.

vijayvmail

January 5th, 2012, 09:25 AM

http://epaper.dinamalar.com/PUBLICATIONS/DM/DINAMALAR/2012/01/05/Photographs/003/05_01_2012_003_017_001.jpg

http://epaper.dinamalar.com/PUBLICATIONS/DM/DINAMALAR/2012/01/05/Article//003/05_01_2012_003_013.jpg

Source: dinamalar, Chennai edition, dated 05-Jan-2012

Thae article mainly says that the third TBM is ready and will arrive in Chennai by Feb. Steps are being taken to bring the remaining TBMs (8) from China and Korea by March.

Rest of the article is giving a re-cap of the UG works.

prabhu007

January 5th, 2012, 10:25 AM

Someone please tell me where the vadapalani elevated road flyover is to descend.

is it before laxman sruthi or after laxman sruthi. I remember reading discussion its before laxman sruthi

Thanks

It is before Lakshman Sruthi signal

prabhu007

January 5th, 2012, 10:28 AM

Don't worry, it will be ready in time. The test runs are scheduled to start only in December 2013. By then the elevated section of corridor 2 will be 100% ready. we still have 2 years to go.

Today I observed small projections on both ends of each wide pillar. I guess pillars are to be built out of that. So may be there is a concourse floor. Let us wait-n-watch for some more time, we'll get a clear picture. Meanwhile, does anybody have the sketch for SIDCO Station? If so please share!!!

arun82

January 5th, 2012, 12:44 PM

going by the height of the pillars, i think the concourse area will be on the sides and directly connecting to the platforms on the middle of the road. Does not make any sense practically, i guess thats how it will be (something similar to MG road station in bangalore metro)

In that case how will they connect to the opposite side ( Hiltion hotel side). Will there be somekind of Skywalk below the segment. I couldn't really make out how they are going to build the station.

Also in L&T part there are these wide structures on top of the pillars. In soma part (mmDA) the pillars are either without top portion and one pillar with a box like structure on top .( This is near the CCCL cement mixing plant).

If they are going to construct a flyover on IRR near vadapalani . How are they going to manage the traffic in the vadapalani junction.

Abhishek901

January 6th, 2012, 04:06 PM

We got it in 1930 itself :cheers:

How? Are you talking about suburban rail?

prabhu007

January 6th, 2012, 05:02 PM

In that case how will they connect to the opposite side ( Hiltion hotel side). Will there be somekind of Skywalk below the segment. I couldn't really make out how they are going to build the station.

Also in L&T part there are these wide structures on top of the pillars. In soma part (mmDA) the pillars are either without top portion and one pillar with a box like structure on top .( This is near the CCCL cement mixing plant).

If they are going to construct a flyover on IRR near vadapalani . How are they going to manage the traffic in the vadapalani junction.

Guys I enquired abt the SIDCO station with a worker there. Not sure how much we can trust his comments. He said only the platform would be on top of the road. The station concourse area, ticket counter, etc would be on the side. There will be a FOB which will connect both sides of the road and the station entrance. Parking area in the ground floor of the station will only be enough for the staff it seems. Ground area for the station is hardly 3000 sq ft. it seems. There won't be any escalators for the FOB. But the concourse and station level will have escalators. Elevators would be there from ground level. SIDCO is the smallest station across all stations in the 2 lines (Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Chennai-Central-the-hulk-among-Metro-stations/articleshow/9791435.cms)). So no wonder they are doing it this way.

Vicvin86

January 6th, 2012, 05:06 PM

How? Are you talking about suburban rail?
:D yeah....

bonoslack7

January 6th, 2012, 06:35 PM

http://i.imgur.com/QlvKY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/57n62.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/HXwiA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/F4voA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/sIBYb.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/FSMW0.jpg

coolmukund

January 7th, 2012, 06:24 AM

^^

WOW!!! The December newsletter is hell a lot informative!!!

think_different

January 7th, 2012, 04:29 PM

aW1NNNy70vc

prabhu007

January 7th, 2012, 04:45 PM

^^

WOW!!! The December newsletter is hell a lot informative!!!

Yeah.. very nice to read!!! :)

murlee

January 7th, 2012, 06:49 PM

Looks like work on stations have started in a few places.. Wonder why they are not yet releasing the renders of them!!

kannan infratech

January 7th, 2012, 09:05 PM

A Request to Forumers

As per the request from the Police Dept, Please do not post Metro station drawings in public forums.
Safety Issues.

chennaidesi

January 7th, 2012, 09:24 PM

Good and very valid point. This applies to all Metro projects of our country.

prabhu007

January 8th, 2012, 08:37 AM

Noticed a few progress items today..

> Concrete has been filled up in the first portal near CMBT
> CCCL has put 4 horizontal beams between 2 pillars of Vadapalani station
> Concrete mixer was parked near the Udayam theatre portal construction area,. may be they will fill out concrete for that pillar today

goodman

January 8th, 2012, 05:58 PM

A Request to Forumers

As per the request from the Police Dept, Please do not post Metro station drawings in public forums.
Safety Issues.
In the first place, the drawings shouldn't be available to anybody except the authorized personnel involved in the construction. If our forumers can access the drawings, then any terrorist can access it. So, the police should warn the concerned authorities about this, because it is a matter of public safety.

ModernIndia

January 8th, 2012, 06:43 PM

^^As per the request from the Police Dept, Please do not post Metro station drawings in public forums.
Safety Issues.
I am sorry! That doesn't make any sense to me. If secrecy is required then normal public will not have acess to it in the first place. We will only be posting what is readily available in CMRL websites or tender documents. There is no harm in posting it again. I believe the original set of tender documents had detailed drawings available, which was posted here about a year back in this forum. I had sent an email to CMRL asking them to build stations with modern elevations, instead of the ones shown in render. They had responded that the drawings are indicative and the company winning the tender will propose the actual elevation.
I had posted that response in this forum at that time.

Anyway we are talking about renders showing elevations and simple cutaway sections which will be known to everyone, once the station is built.

So if you find some renders, please post it here as well.

I am planning to send an email to CMRL requesting them to publish the finalized elevation and renders. Let see if they respond.

purty_trash

January 9th, 2012, 07:55 AM

^^sane enough argument.

prabhu007

January 9th, 2012, 08:05 AM

^^
I am sorry! That doesn't make any sense to me. If secrecy is required then normal public will not have acess to it in the first place. We will only be posting what is readily available in CMRL websites or tender documents. There is no harm in posting it again. I believe the original set of tender documents had detailed drawings available, which was posted here about a year back in this forum. I had sent an email to CMRL asking them to build stations with modern elevations, instead of the ones shown in render. They had responded that the drawings are indicative and the company winning the tender will propose the actual elevation.
I had posted that response in this forum at that time.

Anyway we are talking about renders showing elevations and simple cutaway sections which will be known to everyone, once the station is built.

So if you find some renders, please post it here as well.

I am planning to send an email to CMRL requesting them to publish the finalized elevation and renders. Let see if they respond.

MI - though I agree to most of your views, I disagree with the part I've highlighted. SSC is a very popular forum and google crawls it very frequently. Post something on SSC and search it after a couple of hours and you would find it. CMRL website is not so. So posting it again here provides more access to the designs when searched on google. Whether CMRL releases it publicly or not, as per this forum rules, the mod does not want it to be posted and it SHOULD be followed. Period. Let's not argue. No offence meant.

kannan infratech

January 9th, 2012, 08:37 AM

We have received specific instructions on Bus Terminus, Railway stations & Airports Construction Drawings (not applicable to renders or photos of exterior & interior views)

If you Guys have details share it thro mail / PM personally.

Please do not post them here.

prabhu007

January 9th, 2012, 08:48 AM

Agreed Kannan sir.. request you to please check pages 49-51. there are drawing in those pages.. and these drawings are top search results in google. Please remove them.

ModernIndia

January 9th, 2012, 03:57 PM

^^ Still not convinced.

Prabhu... I don't know how a hit in google crawls make it vulnerable. Also, we are talking about intelligent terrorists here, who will know where to look, especially if it is available on the internet. They won't be looking for the "most popular" site to find the drawings.

I wish the bad folks are as clueless. But unfortunately, the first thing where the bad guys will look for is tender documents, CMRL websites. They will try to snoop in on CMRL intranet traffic for details that are kept away from public eye.

^^Kannan
Thanks for confirming that they are not worried about the elevation and superficial stuff. Otherwise, I will be worried about their capabilities. I guess most of us are actually interested in understanding the size, access, location, facilities etc..The technical details of the size of the column and the location of the power station is not that critical for our understanding.

Even if it is not important to our discussions, any information that is available in public domain should be acceptable to Skyscrapercity. If folks are posting information that are not available in public domain yet, that is a different story. If police or security folks requested you to avoid posting of public domain information relating to airport/trainstations/busstands, then I recommend that you make it part of Skyscraperciy rules. I would also personally tell them that it makes no sense in the first place, because those information will be available (if/when available) at other sites.

We are talking about public places that are accessible to anyone most part of the day. Let us not get carried away with self sensorship.

raghussc

January 9th, 2012, 06:54 PM

Perhaps the Police have to first get educated on the RTI Act, its provisions etc., I know Police are not kidding, but they gotta adjust to the changes in Information Age, and need their bosses (ministers) to come up with laws to protect vital information.

Agree with MI mostly. Intelligent terrorists will try to get first hand info from CMRL websites, either that is available for Public, or on its intranet by hacking thru. Why would one rely on 2nd hand information but not on the first hand info from CMRL site ?

kannan infratech

January 10th, 2012, 09:17 AM

I request that we will comply by what has been suggested to us. No further arguments on this. We do not want our dear forum to get into any trouble.

Many of the Engg firms who are involved in Design & Construction share the documents over public domain since they are free. But they forget to erase / delete after downloading.

CMRL website will have enough security and it is their duty to protect the data.

Please do not forget that we also have locally groomed street terrorists who are nuisance creators but are being used by clever ones.

Gansan

January 10th, 2012, 03:15 PM

The first span of viaduct - starting from Halda and proceeding towards Guindy - was completed today.

natarajan1986

January 10th, 2012, 07:57 PM

Lets concentrate on metro updates

coolmukund

January 11th, 2012, 04:23 AM

I saw some precast median segments in front of Aishwarya Mahal in MMDA being laid. The median is like the one in the pic posted by me a few weeks back in front of Hilton.

vijayvmail

January 11th, 2012, 05:33 AM

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOICH/2012/01/11/2/Img/Pc0021700.jpg

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOICH/2012/01/11/2/Img/Pc0021100.jpg

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOICH/2012/01/11/2/Img/Pc0021000.jpg
TOUGH NAVIGATION: (Above) Commuters have a tough time moving between Chennai Central and Park station as the passageway has narrowed; (Right) A large portion of Saidapet bus stand is taken over by CMRL

While the most ambitious transit project the city has ever seen is slicing through bus terminuses and railway stations, experts say the birth pangs of Metro Rail will cause pain but the results will be worth the trouble

V Ayyappan | TNN

Work on Metro Rail is changing the way people use Chennai Central railway station and four other railway terminals. Entrances and corridors that once provided easy access to these transport nerve centres are now rapidly becoming narrow, crowded pathways that pose serious risk to life and limb.
The situation is unlikely to get any better for at least three years, till the transportation project is completed. The impact will be most severe at Chennai Central and Moore Market Complex but Southern Railway will also have to make changes to passenger conduits at Washermenpet, Egmore, Guindy and St Thomas Mount railway stations in the coming months.
“We have made plans to make changes to passenger flow at railway stations in coordination with Chennai Metro Rail Ltd officials,” said divisional railway manager S Anantharaman. “This includes construction of an elevated ramp from Wall Tax Road to the car park in front of Moore Market suburban station. Routes for passengers to get in and out of Egmore, Washermenpet and at other stations where Metro will take over land may have to be changed.”
CMRL will occupy land in front of Chennai Central in phases to prevent complete disruption of passenger and vehicle movement. Workers have already cordoned off a stretch of 2,332 metres. While this has not changed passenger flow into the station it has reduced space for commuters between MMC, the subway on the main road and Park railway station and vice versa. After work is completed on the 2,332-metre section, Metro will cordon off space at the premium car park opposite the suburban railway station. The area that is cordoned off will be slap bang in the path of hundreds of commuters who exit Moore Market suburban station and head to Poonamalle High Road. The railways hopes its proposed bridge or pedestrian ramp will solve the problem. “The ramp will allow people to walk from Central to the MMC station,” a senior railway official said.
“Metro officials said they will occupy the rest of the land only after six to eight months. So there will be no major changes right now to passenger flow at Central and the MMC suburban station,” Anantharaman said.
But commuters are already complaining. “There is too little space for commuters between the Park and MMC stations because barricades have been installed too close to two ATMs at the southern end of the station. This is a problem for commuters who alight from trains at MMC and rush to board trains from Park station,” said Chidambaram, a frequent commuter.
Around 2.5 lakh commuters use the MMC station and 1 lakh commuters use Park station every day.
A woman commuter fell from a narrow pathway and sustained injuries during peak hours on Monday. “That stretch is risky because is not lit up at night,” said P Krishnan, another commuter.

Underground Metro

CMRL has begun preliminary works to build an underground metro station near Central

Metro lines from Washermenpet to Saidapet and Central to Tirumangalam will converge here

Subway will be constructed for commuters to enter the station from Moore Market

Source: TOI, Chennai edition , dated 11-Jan-2012 (epaper and Print)

vijayvmail

January 11th, 2012, 05:35 AM

The Chennai Metro Rail juggernaut has put commuters under the cosh. At least four bus terminuses and 15 bus stops have been affected by land acquisition for the project.
Metropolitan Transport Corporation officials say around a fifth of the high court bus terminus was taken over in December to facilitate construction of the transit system. Things have been chaotic at the terminus since December 15, they say.
“Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) took away the toilets and caused damage to electric cables,” said an MTC official. With the terminus serving around 950 bus routes, at least 45,000 commuters and 400 staff use the facility every day.
“Women are worst affected by the toilets being razed. Most of the commuters who come here have travelled long distances,” the official added.
Bus drivers have too little room to park or even manoeuvre their vehicles into and out of the terminus. “When the terminus is full, we can’t take a U-turn to exit. There used to be dedicated lanes earlier and it was very easy,” said a driver who did not want to be named. Several bus stops have been relocated. “Most of the bus stops along routes between Mint and B ro a dw ay, Koya m b e d u - Kathipara- Asarkhana, Asarkhana and Alandur, along Poonamallee High Road have been affected,” the transport official said. “We are forced to stand in the midst of fast-moving vehicles. It is scary and extremely dangerous,” said Nithyashree, a regular commuter who was waiting at the SIET College signal on Mount Road.
Though MTC officials say there has been no dent in revenue due to the Metro work, they agree that keeping schedules has been a problem. “Our drivers have been complaining about extended hours. Bunching of buses has also become a major problem,” the official said. “These are all temporary problems. Everything will be restored as soon as possible. We are in the process of handing out compensation,” said chief general manager (public relations) of CMRL, S Krishnamoorthy.
However, the Metro project is not putting out everyone. Despite losing an entire bus stand, commuters at the Saidapet bus stop opposite Panagal Maaligai have little to worry about. Drivers have been instructed to halt at another bus stop just a few metres away. “The metro rail project is inevitable. We are taking all measures to make sure there are minimum disruptions,” said a senior MTC official.

Source: TOI, Chennai Edition, dated 11-Jan-2012 (e paper and print)

prabhu007

January 11th, 2012, 08:45 AM

I saw some precast median segments in front of Aishwarya Mahal in MMDA being laid. The median is like the one in the pic posted by me a few weeks back in front of Hilton.

Are you sure it is the median? I saw similar structures near Ambika Empire. I thought those were guide walls for the tracks.

arun82

January 11th, 2012, 09:08 AM

Are you sure it is the median? I saw similar structures near Ambika Empire. I thought those were guide walls for the tracks.

Soma decided to cast the median at the site in front of Ambica palace. But near MMDA they decided to go for Pre cast. So my guess is they will arrange the pre cast , remove the barricade and relay the road. So no more work below the road is required. Track laying can be done without affecting the traffic below.

coolmukund

January 11th, 2012, 07:15 PM

Are you sure it is the median? I saw similar structures near Ambika Empire. I thought those were guide walls for the tracks.

Yes it is the median!!! :)

nambi83

January 12th, 2012, 06:12 PM

http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=383940

""மெட்ரோ ரயில் திட்டத்திற்கு தேவையான நிலம் கையகப்படுத்தப்படுவதற்கு இதுவரை 279 கோடி ரூபாய் இழப்பீடு வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. சுரங்கப் பாதையில் தோண்டப்படும் மண், திருநீர்மலை ஏரியாவில் சேமித்து வைக்கவும் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது,'' என்று மெட்ரோ ரயில் தலைமைப் பொது மேலாளர் (மக்கள் தொடர்பு) கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி கூறினார்.

சென்னையில், 45 கி.மீ., தூரத்திற்கு மெட்ரோ ரயில் பாதை அமைக்கும் பணி நடந்து வருகிறது. தரைக்கு மேல், பாலத்தில் 21 கி.மீ., தூரம் பாதை அமைக்கும் பணியில் 60 சதவீதம் பணிகள் முடிவடைந்துள்ளன. 24 கி.மீ., தூரம் சுரங்கப் பாதை அமைக்கும் பணி துவங்கப்படுவதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகள் நடந்து வருகின்றன.

மெட்ரோ ரயில் திட்ட பணிகளின் நிலவரம் குறித்து இந்நிறுவனத்தின் தலைமைப் பொது மேலாளர் (மக்கள் தொடர்பு) எஸ்.கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி கூறியதாவது: மெட்ரோ ரயில் திட்டத்தில், கோயம்பேடு-பரங்கிமலை இடையே மேம்பால ரயில் பாதை அமைக்கும் பணி மற்றும் கோயம்பேடு ரயில்வே யார்டு அமைக்கும் பணிகள், 2013ல் முடிக்கப்படும். அதன் பிறகு, இறுதிக்கட்ட சோதனைகளுக்கு பிறகு மெட்ரோ ரயில் போக்குவரத்து துவங்க திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மெட்ரோ திட்டப் பணியில் 24 கி.மீ., சுரங்கப்பாதை அமைக்கும் பணி வரும் மார்ச் துவங்கப்படும். சுரங்கம் தோண்டுவதற்காக சீனாவிலிருந்து டனல் போரிங் மெஷின்கள், சென்னை வந்துள்ளன. சுரங்கப் பாதை அமைக்கும் இடங்களில் மிகவும் கவனமாக பாதுகாப்பு நடவடிக்கைகள் கையாளப்பட்டு, அதன் பிறகே அப்பகுதியில் சுரங்கம் தோண்டு பணி துவங்கப்படும்.

மெட்ரோ ரயில் திட்டத்தில் 24 கி.மீ., தூரத்திற்கு சுரங்கப் பாதை அமைக்கும் போது, வெளியேற்றப்படும் மண், லாரிகள் மூலம் திருநீர்மலையில் சேமித்து வைக்கப்படும். அங்கிருந்து ரயில் திட்டங்கள் அல்லது அரசு தொடர்பான பணிகளுக்கு தேவைக்கு ஏற்ப பயன்படுத்திக்கொள்ள திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.*

சென்னையில் ரயில், பஸ்சில் ஒரே டிக்கெட்டில் பயணம் : இத்திட்டத்தில் அனைத்து நிலையங்களும், முக்கிய பஸ் நிலையங்கள் மற்றும் பஸ் நிறுத்தங்கள் அருகிலேயே அமைகின்றன. இதனால், மெட்ரோ ரயில், சென்னை பீச் - பரங்கிமலை மேம்பால ரயில், புறநகர் மின்சார ரயில் மற்றும் மாநகர போக்குவரத்து பஸ்களிலும் பயணிகள் ஒரே

டிக்கெட்டில் பயணம் செய்ய ஏதுவாக, ஒருங்கிணைந்த பயணச் சீட்டு, "ஸ்மார்ட் கார்டு' திட்டம் செயல்படுத்துவது குறித்தும் ஆலோசிக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. இவ்வாறு கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி கூறினார்.

pls any body can translate the exact news, since i am not good at translation.

ModernIndia

January 12th, 2012, 10:09 PM

ESreedharan is a great individual and I have tremendous respect for him. I will be happy for Kochi if he gets involved in their project in any way. Good for them.

However I don't agree that their gain is our loss. That is the wrong way to look at it and it is also not accurate.

I believe Chennai Metro guys are doing a great job and Phase I is progressing quite well. From what I have seen so far, they are an efficient, professional unit and have intent and capability to complete the job well. We will experience some delays in project of this magnitude, but it is not awful as we have seen in other projects in Chennai.

My wish is that our current CM Shri JJ should change her mind and allow the subsequent phases of Metro to move forward.

arun82

January 13th, 2012, 08:34 AM

nambi83

January 13th, 2012, 08:39 AM

arun82

January 13th, 2012, 10:06 AM

i accept CMRL phase 1 is doing good job no doubt about it but its complete success relies based on their extension only,what happening here is in the form of MONO they are blocking the success.in the current scenario MONO will be completed for 20 kms and it will be operated , rest of the portion will be u/c. next in future there will power change will happen if suppose (other than DMK,ADMK) came to power they will start another mode of transport and it will be completed like half bake bread, So neither Metro or Mono will be successful.

After 10 years Kerala and Karnataka will go for phase 5 to phase 6 extension, but here we will discuss Light metro, large metro,mono,brts will be successful if the same political scenario continues.

its my general view of the current situation, it sounds like harsh comment but truth always will be like that.

SIR please check the facts before giving opinions. Phase 2 metro is no way linked with Mono. Phase 2 Metro is going to be North Chennai and Mono is going to be in South. There is only one line which be common between Mono and Metro ( ponnamallee- Vadapalani). What is the difficulty in having two different transport system. Kerala and Karnataka as per point having good influence does not have a suburban railway system which is excellent here, MTC tops in the most number of people carried and has extermely good network.

ModernIndia

January 13th, 2012, 04:53 PM

^^it sounds like harsh comment but truth always will be like that
Completely OT and On a lighter note, why do we say this?
Are you sure about truth being always harsh... There are so many truth that are very simple, pleasant, nice and free. As human beings we tend focus on the facts that bother us and ignore the ones that actually makes us happy. Some times we may have to train our mind to just focus on those "happy truths" to lead a stress free life. :).

Sorry! :) I know that had nothing to do with Metro.

In a way, I share part of your apprehension nambi. We are facing the risk of elimination of subsequent phases of Metro, especially with the change of government. That would be a great disservice to Chennai. If Shri JJ does approve the subsequent phases of Metro, my respect for her would improve tremendously. I do believe that she is extremely determined and will achieve any thing against any odds, if she sets her mind to it. At this point, we can only hope that she is surrounded by good advisers and she heeds to their advice. Let us see what happens...

anekho

January 13th, 2012, 05:03 PM

Metro woes for residents of Anna Nagar

Residents of Anna Nagar have souught the early completion of the ongoing Chennai metro rail work, complaining that the traffic diversions have changed the residential atmosphere of their locality.

The interior roads, which were quiet and lush, are no longer the same, said the residents, adding that children are forced to remain indoors because of the high traffic flow and the noise pollution from vehicles disrupt sleep.

“Most of the residents here have followed town-planning rules. However, now there is haphazard parking on the wide roads and traffic congestion has become the order of the day,” rued Sathya Narayanan, a retired government teacher who resides near Anna Nagar Blue Star.

The traffic diversions to facilitate metro rail work in Anna Nagar has inconvenienced pedestrians who are forced to walk on the cramped roads and struggle to cross the bylanes, said the residents.

Deputy commissioner of police, traffic (west) Santhosh Kumar said that the diversions are unavoidable and it is expected to be in place for at least two years. However, it depends on how quickly the work is completed, he said.

”We have placed boards indicating the routes to be taken by the motorists on all prominent roads. The public could also approach the cops on duty to help them,” he said.

Moreover, the officers on duty at night have been instructed to ensure that the boards are in proper condition.

Source (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/metro-woes-residents-anna-nagar-249)

lexraja

January 13th, 2012, 05:07 PM

SIR please check the facts before giving opinions. Phase 2 metro is no way linked with Mono. Phase 2 Metro is going to be North Chennai and Mono is going to be in South. There is only one line which be common between Mono and Metro ( ponnamallee- Vadapalani). What is the difficulty in having two different transport system. Kerala and Karnataka as per point having good influence does not have a suburban railway system which is excellent here, MTC tops in the most number of people carried and has extermely good network.

My thoughts exactly . Comparing Chennai with Karnataka or Kerala is again an "apples and oranges" thing. These states are just getting started with metros and intra city rail transportation . Chennai has had 3-4 active suburban lines plus an MRTS a while . After Phase 1 of Metro is complete we will have 6-7 active railway lines . I am not saying Chennai does not have issues . It does have the following issues

1) Integration of all railway networks and SMART CARD Ticketing system for all modes of transports . Also during construction safety of the commuters who pass by the narrow barricades should be ensured.

2)Maintenance and UpKeep of all train stations especially MRTS

3)The current govt or any future govt has to set aside their egoes and pet projects and ask themselves if what they are trying to implement would truly benefit the city . Raiilway lines should be built taking into account potential growth corridors(SPDR,OMR,Oragadam) and uncovered areas (North and South West Chennai).

:)

prabhu007

January 13th, 2012, 05:28 PM

anekho

January 13th, 2012, 10:58 PM

Heritage officials not convinced of design

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00892/14THMETRO_RAIL_892475f.jpg
Photo: V.Ganesan CMRL. Work in progress near Dr. Ambedkar Law College campus.

Of proposed Metro Rail station near High Court

Though construction leading to the tunnelling for Metro rail has commenced near Madras High Court, the design of the proposed station near it has not yet convinced the heritage authorities. The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has so far managed to clear only one of the several objections raised.

The proposed alignment and station comes within 300 meters of the Tomb of David Yale and Joseph Hymners located inside Dr. Ambedkar Law College campus. This tomb is a protected national monument and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). As mandated by the Act, any construction within 100 meters of a national monument is prohibited and those proposed between 100 and 300 meters has to be cleared by the National Monuments Authority, Delhi.
Decision awaited

The officials at the Competent Authority, which regulates construction near centrally protected monuments in Tamil Nadu, said that after reviewing the design of the High Court Station, it has recommended to the National Monuments Authority to treat this project as an exception and provide necessary clearance. The national authority is yet to take a final decision.

The Heritage Conservation Committee constituted by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to review the impact of Metro rail on heritage structures also has not cleared the station design.

A few months ago, unconvinced of the design of the proposed High Court Station, it asked the CMRL to revise the design. Even the modified one submitted is still under review.

“While the idea of taking a part of the metro line underground to preserve the skyline of the city is appreciable, some of the stations so far designed near heritage structures are a cause of concern since they are not adequately sympathetic with the wealth of architecture around,” observed Sujatha Shankar, an architect and member of the Committee.

“In the case of High Court, the proposed station and its allied structures are very close to the heritage buildings. From the drawings it appears that some parts of the station could go beneath the old structures. We have to study this carefully. A deeper study and representation of existing building alignments and character is mandatory for sensibly integrating metro stations with the surrounding,” she added.
Clearance

CMRL officials said that they are waiting for the clearance from the National Monuments Authority, and they would incorporate suggestions made by the Heritage Conservation Committee.

Construction leading to the tunnelling has commenced

Station comes within 300 meters of the Tomb of David Yale and Joseph Hymners

Source (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article2799225.ece)

anekho

January 13th, 2012, 10:59 PM

Traffic changes for Metro Rail work

The traffic police have announced certain changes in the vehicular movement to facilitate Chennai Metro Rail Limited work on the Nehru Park underground station and in front of Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. The changes will come into force on Saturday and will be in place from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

According to a press release, the stretch of EVR Salai from Ega junction to Gengu Reddy subway junction will be made one way.

The stretch from Gengu Reddy subway to East Spur Tank Road junction will be a one way with entry from EVR Salai towards Gengu Reddy subway.

The stretch from East Spur Tank Road to Chetpet point will be made one-way with entry from East Spur Tank road - Casa Major Road junction and no-entry from Chetpet point.

Dr. Gurusamy Bridge will be a one-way with entry from Chetpet point and no entry from EVR Salai.

Harrington Road will be a one-way from EVR Salai junction up to Subway- Vaidhyanathan Street junction with entry from EVR Salai from 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. only.

Traffic police have also announced the following diversions:

Vehicles coming from Chennai Central and bound for Koyambedu on EVR Salai should turn left into Gengu Reddy subway, take Mayor Ramanathan Salai and Dr Gurusamy Bridge to reach EVR Periyar Salai.

Vehicles coming from Koyambedu and bound for Chetpet via Dr Gurusamy Bridge at Ega Junction will be restricted and directed to go straight on EVR Salai and turn right at Gengu Reddy sub-way .

Vehicles coming from Co-optex Point towards the subway should turn right at Casa Major Road - Halls Road junction towards Halls Road - Udipi point junction and turn left onto Dr.Nair Bridge to reach EVR Salai.

Vehicles coming on Valluvarkottam High Road towards Spur Tank Road will be restricted to take right turn at Chetpet point and diverted straight towards Dr. Gurusamy Bridge.

Vehicles from Chetpet via Dr. Gurusamy Bridge and going towards EVR Salai should take right or left turn at Ega junction and should not take Vasu Street.

Vehicles from Harrington Road towards Spur Tank Road should take left turn towards Dr. Gurusamy Bridge, right turn to EVR Salai, right turn to Gengu Reddy subway and to Spur Tank Road, the release said.

Source (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article2799228.ece)

purushnit

January 14th, 2012, 04:30 AM

http://dinamani.com/edition/Story.aspx?SectionName=Editorial%20Articles&artid=537514&SectionID=133&MainSectionID=133&SEO=&Title=%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%20%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D

மெட்ரோவும் மோனோவும்

செஞ்சி கு.இரா. பிரபு
First Published : 14 Jan 2012 01:01:48 AM IST

உலகெங்கும் உள்ள பெரு நகரங்களில் அதிகரித்து வரும் மக்கள்தொகையால் நகர்ப்புறப் போக்குவரத்து நெருக்கடியானதாக மாறிவருகிறது.
விரிவடைந்து வரும் நகர எல்லைகளும் நிலைமையை மேலும் சிக்கலாக்கியுள்ளன. இதற்கு இந்திய நகரங்களும் விதிவிலக்கல்ல.
அனைத்து வகையான போக்குவரத்து முறைகளையும் பின்பற்றி இந்த நெருக்கடியைச் சமாளிக்க வேண்டும் என்பதே வல்லுநர்களின் கருத்தாக உள்ளது. அதன்படி கொல்கத்தா மாநகரில் 1984-ம் ஆண்டு மெட்ரோ ரயில் சேவை தொடங்கப்பட்டது.
எனினும், போக்குவரத்து நெரிசல் மென்மேலும் அதிகரித்து வந்ததால், நவீன தொழில்நுட்ப உதவியுடன் நிலைமையைச் சமாளிக்க, அதிவேக போக்குவரத்துக் கொள்கை உருவாக்கப்பட்டது.
"குறைந்த நேரத்தில், அதிகமான மக்களை இடம்நகர்த்தும் பொதுப் போக்குவரத்து' என்ற நோக்கத்துடன் இத்திட்டம் முன்னெடுக்கப்பட்டது.
இதன் தொடக்கமாக 1995-ம் ஆண்டு தில்லி மெட்ரோ ரயில் நிறுவனம் தொடங்கப்பட்டது. ஏனைய இந்திய நகரங்களுக்கும் இத்திட்டத்தை விரிவுபடுத்தும் முகமாக பெங்களூர், மும்பை, சென்னை நகரங்களிலும் மெட்ரோ நிறுவனங்கள் தொடங்கப்பட்டன.
சென்னையில் 2009-ம் ஆண்டு ஜூன் மாதம், ரூ.14,600 கோடி திட்ட முதலீட்டில் 45 கிலோ மீட்டருக்கு மெட்ரோ வழித்தடம் அமைக்கும் பணிகள் தொடங்கின. இந்நிலையில் சென்ற ஆண்டு ஆளுநர் உரையில், 2006-ல் திட்டமிடப்பட்ட மோனோ ரயில் திட்டத்துக்குப் புத்துயிர் அளிக்கப்படுவதற்கான தகவல் வந்து சேர்ந்தது.
2026-ம் ஆண்டில் மாநகர மக்களுக்கான பொதுப் போக்குவரத்தின் பயன்பாட்டை 27-லிருந்து 46 சதவிகிதமாக உயர்த்தும் நோக்கத்துடன் இத்திட்டம் வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. சென்னையின் புற நகர்ப் பகுதிகளையும் கவனமாக இத்திட்டத்தில் இணைத்துள்ளனர்.
இதன் முதல் கட்டமாக 111 கிலோ மீட்டருக்கான மோனோ ரயில் சேவையை நிறுவ ஒப்பந்தப் புள்ளிகள் கோரப்பட்டு உள்ளன.
இந்நிலையில் சென்னை போன்ற இந்திய நகரங்களுக்கு எவ்வகையான போக்குவரத்து உகந்தது என்ற வாதம் எழுந்துள்ளது.
மோனோ ரயிலைப் பொருத்தவரை 4 கார்களைக் கொண்ட ஒரு மோனோ 560 பேர் பயணம் செய்வதற்கான கொள்ளளவு உடையது. 6 கார்களைக் கொண்ட ஒரு மோனோ ஒரு மணி நேரத்தில், ஒரு திசையில் 16,500 பேரை இடம் நகர்த்தும். கட்டுமானப் பணிகளைப் பொருத்தவரை அதிகமான நில ஆக்கிரமிப்பு தேவைப்படாது. தற்போதைய சாலைகளின் மீதே உத்தரம் அமைத்து மோனோவை இயக்கலாம் என்பது இதன் சிறப்பம்சமாகும்.
எனினும் சுரங்கப் பாதை மற்றும் மேம்பாலங்கள் வழியாக கட்டமைக்கப்படும் நடுத்தர வகை மெட்ரோ ஒரு மணி நேரத்தில், ஒரு திசையில் 45 ஆயிரம் பேரை இடம் நகர்த்தும் சக்திமிக்கது.
ஒரு கிலோ மீட்டருக்கான மேம்பால மெட்ரோ வழித்தடத்தை அமைக்க ரூ.100 கோடி செலவாகும் எனில், ஒரு கிலோ மீட்டர் மோனோ தடம் அமைக்க ரூ.150 கோடி தேவைப்படும். இதைவிட முக்கியமாக மோனோவை இயக்குவதற்கும் பராமரிப்பதற்கும் அதிக செலவுபிடிக்கும்.
நீண்ட தூரத்துக்கு அதிகமானோரை இடம் நகர்த்துவதில் மெட்ரோவே அதியுயர் திறன்மிக்கதாய் உள்ளது. இந்த கோட்பாட்டில் உலகளவில் மோனோ ஒரு நிரூபிக்கப்பட்ட திட்டம் அல்ல.
சென்னை மெட்ரோ திட்டத்தை மேலும் விரிவுபடுத்தினால் மட்டுமே அதன் முழுப்பலனையும் அடைய முடியும் என்று தில்லி மெட்ரோ நிறுவனத்தின் முன்னாள் தலைவர் இ.ஸ்ரீதரன் வலியுறுத்துகிறார்.
190 கிலோ மீட்டர் நீளமுள்ள தில்லி மெட்ரோ தடத்தின் எந்த நிறுத்தத்தில் ஏறினாலும், தலைநகரின் எந்தப் பகுதிக்கும் சென்றுவிட முடியும் என்ற நிலை உள்ளது. இதனால் நாளொன்றுக்கு 16 லட்சம் பேர் அதில் பயணிக்கின்றனர்.
ஆனால், 2 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு உள்ளாக 111 கிலோ மீட்டர் தூரத்துக்கான மோனோ சேவையை நிறுவி விடுவது என்ற முனைப்புடன் அரசு களமிறங்கினால், அது மெட்ரோ மீதான அரசின் முழு கவனத்தையும் சிதைத்துவிடும். ஒப்பீட்டளவில் மோனோவுக்கான முதலீடு குறைவுதான் என்றபோதிலும், அதிவேக போக்குவரத்துத் திட்டத்தின் பிரதான சேவையாக மோனோவை முன்னிறுத்துவது, திட்டத்தின் நோக்கத்தையே முடமாக்கிவிடும் அபாயமுள்ளது.
அதற்காக இந்திய நகரங்களுக்கு மோனோ ஒத்துவராது என்று முத்திரை குத்திவிட முடியாது. கணிசமான மக்கள்தொகை பயணிக்கக் கூடிய குறைந்த தூர வழித்தடத்தில் மோனோவால் இலகுவாகச் செயல்பட முடியும். அந்த வகையில் இரண்டு வெவ்வேறு மெட்ரோ வழித்தடத்தை இணைக்கும் பணியில் மோனோவை களமிறக்கலாம். இது அவசியமானதும் கூட.
உதாரணமாக, சென்னை கடற்கரை முதல் வேளச்சேரி வரை இயங்கிவரும் பறக்கும் ரயில் திட்டம் மக்களை வெகுவாகக் கவரவில்லை. இந்த வழித்தடத்தில் உள்ள பெரும்பாலான ரயில் நிறுத்தங்கள், பேருந்து நிறுத்தங்களிலிருந்து அதிக தொலைவில் அமைந்துள்ளதே இதற்குக் காரணம்.
இந்த நிலை மெட்ரோவுக்கும் ஏற்படாமலிருக்க மோனோவை ஒரு துணைச் சேவையாக முன்னிறுத்தலாம். மோனோ அந்தப் பணியைக் கச்சிதமாக நிறைவேற்றும்.

nambi83

January 14th, 2012, 04:52 AM

Even I'm facing the same inconvenience, but i'm convinced this is worth the wait and hardship. But why not people understand the importance of this project? The press needs something to talk about and they have found this now. Only till a few months back the whole of Annanagar was dug up for laying new water pipelines, nobody complained, each and every junction/crossings/U-turn points were closed and diversions were allowed in only signals, nobody complained.. Now the whole area is getting a world class metro rail connection and every non-sense head starts fouling. Duh!! Why not the press support CMRL and help convince and explain people the importance of this project?? I guess even the Indian team will win a test match abroad, but what I said will never happen.. :(

A film to showcase metro rail benefits

Shankaran Malini, TNN | Dec 25, 2011, 03.32AM IST
CHENNAI: The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), on behalf of the state government, has prepared a documentary on metro rail to create awareness among Chennaiites on the need for the project and the unavoidable traffic diversions with which the public will have to cooperate.

Of late, the city has been seeing an increase in traffic diversions due to the metro rail project. Actress Anuja Iyer (of 'Ninaithale Inikkum' and 'Unnaipol Oruvan' fame) will anchor the film.

"The documentary, made in Tamil and English, runs for nearly 20 minutes. Post-production work is on and the documentary will be screened in theaters and public places. It has been shot by ad filmmaker Poogundran. It took two days to film the documentary," said Iyer.

As the work on the project will continue till 2015, the documentary will focus on a range of things it would impact. "I will be touching upon the points like why such a project is required, and how it will help us in the future. Shot at landmark spots with heavy traffic like the Egmore railway and the Koyambedu market area, it will also show actual construction sites of metro rail. While including complaints from people, the documentary will stress on how the agencies have taken care to keep the green cover of the city as undisturbed as possible. It would say that no tree would be felled unless it is absolutely necessary," Iyer said.

A senior metro rail official said that the film would help the corporation educate the people about the benefits of the project and to address any concerns they would have.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/A-film-to-showcase-metro-rail-benefits/articleshow/11237428.cms

Vicvin86

January 14th, 2012, 08:16 AM

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/4835/img6610p.jpg
By vintn (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/vintn) at 2012-01-13

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/8059/img6612sr.jpg
By vintn (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/vintn) at 2012-01-13

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/926/img6602c.jpg
By vintn (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/vintn) at 2012-01-13

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2915/img6601ev.jpg
By vintn (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/vintn) at 2012-01-13

krishnaswamy

January 14th, 2012, 09:10 AM

Excellent Photos..

Vicvin86

January 14th, 2012, 09:48 AM

^^ Thank you! One more...
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9808/img6576y.jpg
By vintn (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/vintn) at 2012-01-14

strike2

January 14th, 2012, 09:52 AM

Nice photos
looks like they have started putting rails already :)

nandan_ks

January 14th, 2012, 11:04 AM

^^ No not yet, those are the rails for the gantry crane[Yellow coloured]

anekho

January 14th, 2012, 11:09 AM

Excellent snaps, Vinoth! TFS!

Vicvin86

January 14th, 2012, 11:14 AM

Nice photos
looks like they have started putting rails already :)

Excellent snaps, Vinoth! TFS!

Thanks guys!

^^ No not yet, those are the rails for the gantry crane[Yellow coloured]

Yup they are for wall construction...

Indian Sun

January 14th, 2012, 04:47 PM

Nice pics Vinoth !

prabhu007

January 14th, 2012, 06:53 PM

Super job Vinoth!!! :)

sshivakumar

January 14th, 2012, 08:56 PM

Vinoth.. :bow::bow::bow:

natarajan1986

January 15th, 2012, 05:57 AM

who is vinoth here, anyway nice pics

krishnaswamy

January 15th, 2012, 06:09 AM

who is vinoth here, anyway nice pics
shoots amazing photos..

rsrikanth05

January 15th, 2012, 08:40 AM

who is vinoth here, anyway nice pics
-----> Vicvin86 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/member.php?u=285350)

When is contruction OVER Kathipara going to start?

vinblr

January 15th, 2012, 10:39 AM

^^Nice pics - what a view :)

Vicvin86

January 15th, 2012, 11:14 AM

Thanks guys!!!!:colgate:

Vicvin86

January 15th, 2012, 11:16 AM

When is contruction OVER Kathipara going to start?

Pillar works are going on inside the loops and piling has started between Olympia tech park and Police quaters. Thamarai tech park wall is gone.... Will take another 6 months.

rsrikanth05

January 15th, 2012, 08:05 PM

Pillar works are going on inside the loops and piling has started between Olympia tech park and Police quaters. Thamarai tech park wall is gone.... Will take another 6 months.
Brilliant!

vijayvmail

January 16th, 2012, 05:53 AM

TShyam

January 16th, 2012, 08:52 AM

Works are progressing fast for the SIDCO station.

Today, the center of one side of IRR (one going towards Kathipara) has been blocked. They have built the median there and opened up the previously blocked portion under the metro line. So, traffic going towards Kathipara has to split and go around the new barricades in the center of the carriage way.

What is the exact design of the station? Are there going to be pillars right on the middle of the carriage way? That can't be it ! I don't understand why they have barricaded the middle part.

SIDCO station comes right opposite Hilton (I think). I remember reading it is going to be the smallest station (only 12000 sqft or something). So the structure might be different.

prabhu007

January 16th, 2012, 10:25 AM

SIDCO station comes right opposite Hilton (I think). I remember reading it is going to be the smallest station (only 12000 sqft or something). So the structure might be different.

I explained abt the station some time back. Here it is (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=87290193&postcount=5305).. Beams supporting the platforms would be built on top of this newly barricaded area. On the pedestrian median side, huge T shaped pillars would come up with one end stretching till the end of the current Y shaped pillars. Hope you understand.. If not, let me know..

vijayvmail

January 16th, 2012, 10:28 AM

I explained abt the station some time back. Here it is (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=87290193&postcount=5305).. Beams supporting the platforms would be built on top of this newly barricaded area. On the pedestrian median side, huge T shaped pillars would come up with one end stretching till the end of the current Y shaped pillars. Hope you understand.. If not, let me know..

So, the new barriers are just to prevent traffic from directly going beneath the platforms being built above. No actual digging will be done there. Am I right?

prabhu007

January 16th, 2012, 10:30 AM

Works are progressing fast for the SIDCO station.

Today, the center of one side of IRR (one going towards Kathipara) has been blocked. They have built the median there and opened up the previously blocked portion under the metro line. So, traffic going towards Kathipara has to split and go around the new barricades in the center of the carriage way.

What is the exact design of the station? Are there going to be pillars right on the middle of the carriage way? That can't be it ! I don't understand why they have barricaded the middle part.

Apart from center pillars, station pillars would be on the CIPET side. No station building would be found on Hilton side. The station building itself is the smallest of the lot, and hence only platform and FOB will be found on the Hilton side.

prabhu007

January 16th, 2012, 10:32 AM

So, the new barriers are just to prevent traffic from directly going beneath the platforms being built above. No actual digging will be done there. Am I right?

You're right.. Plus there would be steel supporting structures from the ground level right.. so the barricaded area would be used for that. I shall enquire about this today/tomorrw and provde a firm update..

arun82

January 16th, 2012, 12:10 PM

I saw some precast beams in the askarna station by cccl. So they will place these beams on top of the Y shape pillars . They will form the platform . Another t shapped pillar in the pedestrain side will be constructed. so Then they will also block the other side ( Hilton side) after completing this side.

rsrikanth05

January 16th, 2012, 01:00 PM

krishnaswamy

January 16th, 2012, 08:18 PM

ModernIndia

January 17th, 2012, 02:59 AM

^^No need to cross the roads. The stair cases, escalators will be at the side of the roads like a foot over bridge.

vivekajithfan

January 17th, 2012, 06:27 AM

On the second day of every month, 67-year-old K.T. Rajan, who retired from Central Government service, leaves his home in Pattabiram after the morning rush hour, and makes his way to Teynampet to collect his monthly pension of Rs.9,000. He used to board Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses. Now, it is a distant memory.

“The bus fare [since the hike that came into effect on November 18, 2011] looks like a big amount for people like me. The only public transport system I can afford is the suburban EMU service. Of late, trains are more crowded and I get breathless climbing foot overbridges. But I have no option,” he says.

The trains are crowded for a reason. The six suburban railway lines that cut across and project out of the city witnessed record growth in passenger volumes last month. On an average, over one lakh additional passengers used the train services each day in December. Segments where the railway line runs parallel to existing bus routes, such as Beach-Tambaram and Villivakkam-Avadi, registered some of the highest growth.

However, suburban train frequency has remained static. R. Niranjan, an RTI activist and a train commuter, says the sudden rise in passenger inflow is very steep and there are significant implications. “The very first impact will be on ticketing counters. A sincere implementation of the Automatic Ticketing Vending Machine system is required to reduce crowding. Station infrastructure, such as FOBs, must be upgraded to handle the increase in load and obviously, service frequency has to increase.”

Based on data sought through RTI queries, he says the capacity utilisation of Chennai Beach-Egmore-Tambaram section is just 69 per cent. Capacity or track utilisation is the maximum possible number of trains that can be operated on a railway line in a 24-hour period. “It is very much possible to increase rush hour frequency and Southern Railway has to do it. It has been reluctant to do so for many years, even when budget is allotted. It is the same old story of additional public transport services being denied because they are currently operated at a loss,” he added.

Southern Railway Divisional Railway Manager S. Anantharaman says increasing the number of services is “not feasible.”

“Each rake is a public resource owned by the Indian Railways and any one section of passengers cannot make impossible demands. We serve Chennai city as best as we can.”

The bus fare hike sheds light on a larger narrative regarding the state of public transport in the city. While the rail lines received one lakh extra passengers per day, MTC lost four lakh passengers. In the last two months, the number of passengers using MTC services on an average day came down to 52 lakh (from 56 lakh in October, 2011). Some of them might have opted for trains, but many of them have in all likelihood started relying on either private vehicles or maxi-cabs. On many stretches, the minimum maxi-cab fare of Rs.10 per 12 km is lower than the prevailing MTC bus fares.

While loss incurred by public transport undertakings was cited as the main reason for the fare hike, and the government defended its decision in the Madras High Court recently, the MTC earns a mere Rs.38 lakh extra each day.

T.C.A. Srinivasa Raghavan, a transport economist with the Asian Institute of Transport Development, said: “Typically, in most Indian cities, though less than six employees per bus is enough to operate a public transport system, the average is around 18. It is obvious that our public transport systems are being run inefficiently. The ‘pricing problem' [the fare] is largely due to this.”

http://http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article2806279.ece

prabhu007

January 17th, 2012, 08:05 AM

I request someone to post a few pics of the area.

Here we go!!

Pic taken after crossing Ambal nagar signal towards Kathipara.
http://i.imgur.com/H1pjg.jpg

Sorry for the poor quality, this pic was taken from inside my car. And sorry for the poor illustration, paint is the only image editing tool available in my office :)

> Note the barricaded area in the middle. This area is going to have huge steel frameworks which will support the platform beams exactly on top of this area. Note the alignment, it is exactly beneath the end of those Y shaped pillars. After the platforms are cast the frameworks would move on to the next area. Once whole platform work is done this framework would be removed. No pillars would be there on the carriage-way.

> Exactly parallel to this barricaded area, on the left hand side pedestrian median huge T shaped pillars would arise. One side of the pillar will support the station building and the other side will connect to the platforms raised over the central pillars.

Beams erected on top of Vadapalani station pillars.

http://i.imgur.com/QWSEF.jpg

prabhu007

January 17th, 2012, 08:12 AM

.
"Beams supporting the platforms would be built on top of this newly barricaded area. On the pedestrian median side, huge T shaped pillars would come up with one end stretching till the end of the current Y shaped pillars. Hope you understand.."

could some one post simple diagram on these stations, how it looks like.. Below line looks German & French for me...or could you give some reference to me..

I could not understand few points..

1. stations will be in middle of the road.. but how people can from both sides of the road can reach the station without crossing the roads?
2. is there any signals will be there for pedestrian to cross the road to reach other side of the metro platform?

Find my answers below:

1) There will be FOB from both sides of the road that will connect to the station building which will be on the CIPET side. So, effectively on the Hilton side only FOB will be there, no station structure. To reach platform level, one has to cross the ticket collecting machines/boom barriers, and take the escalator.
2) No need for any signals, bcos FOBs will do the job.

Added advantage of the FOB, as in any other elevated station - It will serve for all pedestrians to cross the road, not just limited to metro users.

rsrikanth05

January 17th, 2012, 10:11 AM

Thanks for the heads up guys. What's the situation at the Vadapalani junction?

TShyam

January 17th, 2012, 11:04 AM

Thanks Prabhu and Vijay for the updates.

prabhu007

January 17th, 2012, 12:12 PM

kannan infratech

January 17th, 2012, 02:29 PM

I think this Delhi Metro Link may explain the station construction

http://sarsonkekhet.blogspot.com/2009/11/on-and-around-delhi-metro.html

prabhu007

January 17th, 2012, 03:29 PM

I think this Delhi Metro Link may explain the station construction

http://sarsonkekhet.blogspot.com/2009/11/on-and-around-delhi-metro.html

Thank you Kannan sir.. I have read this article some time back, but forgot to bookmark it. Excellent work from that guy,.. thanks for posting this.

rsrikanth05

January 17th, 2012, 03:37 PM

I think this Delhi Metro Link may explain the station construction

http://sarsonkekhet.blogspot.com/2009/11/on-and-around-delhi-metro.html
Thank you ji.

nandan_ks

January 17th, 2012, 04:26 PM

Thank you Kannan sir.. I have read this article some time back, but forgot to bookmark it. Excellent work from that guy,.. thanks for posting this.

That guy is our forumer VarunShiv (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/member.php?u=538863)

rsrikanth05

January 17th, 2012, 04:32 PM

That guy is our forumer VarunShiv (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/member.php?u=538863)
One must thank him for the excellent writeup.

prabhu007

January 17th, 2012, 05:28 PM

^^ +1

krishnaswamy

January 17th, 2012, 06:37 PM

Thanks to Prabhu, Kannan sir, ModernIndia for clarifying my queries..

anekho

January 17th, 2012, 06:48 PM

Cheers Kannan-ji, excellent tour of the delhi metro on Varun Shiv's blog! :cheers:

Abhishek901

January 17th, 2012, 08:34 PM

One must thank him for the excellent writeup.

He also prepared very nice maps of Delhi metro which are now there on wikipedia.

coolmukund

January 18th, 2012, 05:11 AM

Thanks for the heads up guys. What's the situation at the Vadapalani junction?

Anytime.! Progress @Vadapalani is nothing to write home about. Beams have come across between two pillars. Aound 4-5 pillars have got concrete filling done. Pillar-tops have been completed for around 15 pillars overall. Some pillars are still in the pile-cap stage.

That said, does anyone have any idea if the same pillars are going to support the Road bridge as well? If so, the pillars are too lean to support such load.

Demolition work is going on in full force at the Vadapalani Junction. I think it is for the Station.

The buildings that housed the Pandian Lodge and other lodges is in the process of being razed down. I also noticed demolitions going on in a corporation school that comes immediately after Hotel Bhimas.

In the following picture, i have outlined in Red, the two areas i just talked about.
http://i.imgur.com/QmclU.jpg

Happy to see those buildings that were an eyesore going. But I also feel sorry for the owners. Hope they have been compensated well.

rsrikanth05

January 18th, 2012, 07:49 AM

^^ Thanks for the update.
What's with the Flyover?
He also prepared very nice maps of Delhi metro which are now there on wikipedia.
Thanks. We've decided to black out today. Once it is lifted, I shall have a look.

prabhu007

January 18th, 2012, 07:59 AM

New barricades have come up in the Kathipara service road (from police quarters towards Ekkattuthangal) and piling work has started inside the barricaded area. Not sure how the viaducts would reach this end of the road. My guess is that they would build portals from Kathipara flyover landing, one leg on the centre median and the other leg on this newly barricaded area (service road).

sridhar_n

January 18th, 2012, 09:07 AM

^^thanks mukund. can anyone elaborate/post how would the flyover /metro line would look - remember seeing 'an artist's plan of the flyover/metro' in this thread sometime back - but it was too crude.

bonoslack7

January 18th, 2012, 11:50 AM

^^ Thanks for the update.
What's with the Flyover?

Thanks. We've decided to black out today. Once it is lifted, I shall have a look.

its not blocked. all you have to do is click the stop button as soon as the page appears.

rsrikanth05

January 18th, 2012, 12:05 PM

its not blocked. all you have to do is click the stop button as soon as the page appears.
I never said it is blocked.
I said it is Blacked Out.
As a veteran editor, who voted in favour of the Blackout, I don't want to open it myself.

ModernIndia

January 18th, 2012, 03:05 PM

^^ In the picture posted by coolMukund, there is a huge open space right opposite to the red marking. It is a great opportunity for CMRL to purchase this space and build a huge multi storeyed parking lot. This can be connected to the station with walways and travelators. People can drive upto this point, park their vehicles here and catch the metro from this point.

prabhu007

January 18th, 2012, 03:15 PM

ModernIndia

January 18th, 2012, 03:22 PM

Prabhu,
I am confused. I thought that the Metro station is going to be where the "red markings" are. I am talking about the space adjacent to the large bulding across the road (opposite side of the road) compared to the red markings.

rsrikanth05

January 18th, 2012, 03:48 PM

prabhu007

January 18th, 2012, 06:06 PM

I'm double confused.
If the vacant plot is the station, what is the red marking?

Coolmukund had posted this some time back. Here is the link for the post (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=84941418&postcount=4685)

http://i.imgur.com/Qbs5k.jpg

prabhu007

January 18th, 2012, 06:12 PM

And the red marking on the corner would be to clear more space to accommodate a free left turn..bcos there would be station pillars, plus flyover pillars, so the ground level service road would be to cramped to accommodate a free left lane, plus a couple of lanes for traffic turning right towards Vadapalani bus stand. The only sore point in this junction would be that the traffic signal would not be avoided forever. :(

kannan infratech

January 18th, 2012, 06:27 PM

I never said it is blocked.
I said it is Blacked Out.
As a veteran editor, who voted in favour of the Blackout, I don't want to open it myself.

Your avtar caption misled me to think that you are a retired Budda aadmi.

Akash told me that you are still in college or just out of it.

Great work in wiki.

Keep it up.

:cheers:

ModernIndia

January 18th, 2012, 06:48 PM

Thanks Prabhu. A lot clearer now and that is exactly the space I was referring to. CMRL should try to buy out the space from Forum mall as well ( and give them a simple access to the 100ft road, which will be important for them). In fact, CMRL can even integrate the Metro station building to the Mall, which will be quite attractive to them.

I believe there is an opportunity to ensure reasonable parking in this area, if CMRL collaborates with Forum Mall promoters and develop something mutually beneficial.

ModernIndia

January 18th, 2012, 06:54 PM

While they are at it, Chennai administration should also try to eliminate the one way corridor in the Arcot road. As we can clearly see the 2 way street stops at the junction of 100ft road and starts again at the Duraiswamy Rd/Arcot intersection. The traffic (towards porur) takes a round about route to get back into Arcot road at this point. A small elevated way (one way towards Valluvarkottam underneath, one way towards porur above) can be constructed here to connect this section. This will ease the conjestion here as well.

coolmukund

January 18th, 2012, 07:36 PM

^^That is where the Vadapalani metro station is coming up. I'm sure this station's ground floor will have parking facility. Bcos the station is going to be at a height of 17-20m above ground (due to the road flyover)

Prabhu,
I am confused. I thought that the Metro station is going to be where the "red markings" are. I am talking about the space adjacent to the large bulding across the road (opposite side of the road) compared to the red markings.

I'm double confused.
If the vacant plot is the station, what is the red marking?

And the red marking on the corner would be to clear more space to accommodate a free left turn..bcos there would be station pillars, plus flyover pillars, so the ground level service road would be to cramped to accommodate a free left lane, plus a couple of lanes for traffic turning right towards Vadapalani bus stand. The only sore point in this junction would be that the traffic signal would not be avoided forever. :(

Sorry to create the confusion.

A conventional elevated metro station will have it's entire 1st floor as the concourse which will stretch through the length of the station. Also, there will be entry/exit points to/from both ends of the station and on both sides of the road. Wherever space permits there will also be entry/exit points near the center.

However, since CMRL is trying to avoid land acquisition as far as possible, the station building with the concourse will be on the side of the road and not necessarily for the entire length of the station. There will also be entry/exit points at different points on either side of the road. I presume that each of these points will be connected to the concourse of the main building through a network of footpaths (hope it is done aesthetically).

My picture in post 4685 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=84941418&postcount=4685) depicts the possible location of the main station building with the concourse.

My picture in post 5387 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=87653139&postcount=5387) depicts the possible entry/exit points to the station. As Prabhu said, it could also be for a smoother left turn.

I guess the confusion was caused because of the disconnect in the different areas marked.

Thanks Prabhu. A lot clearer now and that is exactly the space I was referring to. CMRL should try to buy out the space from Forum mall as well ( and give them a simple access to the 100ft road, which will be important for them). In fact, CMRL can even integrate the Metro station building to the Mall, which will be quite attractive to them.

I believe there is an opportunity to ensure reasonable parking in this area, if CMRL collaborates with Forum Mall promoters and develop something mutually beneficial.

I am not very sure about the land occupied by Forum mall. It is just a representation of what I understood. It is confirmed that Forum Mall will provide both 2 and 4 wheeler access to/from the 100 feet road. Since the current entrance to the path is very narrow, i have assumed that all the land to its left belongs to forum mall only. there could be other possibilities as well.

What CMRL must do is, strike a deal with Forum mall to allow metro commuters to park their vehicles in the mall's 15+ storeyed MLCP that can hold around 2500 cars. That would be one hell of a deal.

ModernIndia

January 18th, 2012, 10:59 PM

Check out CMRL website. They have posted a different color scheme, now with Blue exterior color. I am not sure if "Red" and "Blue" are the true lines representing the two corridors. Or if it is a change to eliminate DMK colors from Metro.

I personally liked the red one better as it had a presence. But it doesn't matter at the end.

ModernIndia

January 18th, 2012, 11:10 PM

^^CoolMukund. Thanks for the clarification.
I will write to CMRL about the possibilities here including:
1. Buy that vacant lot and build a parking space just for Metro
2. Add more floors to the proposed Forum mall parking space and reserve a few floors for Metro commuters.

prabhu007

January 19th, 2012, 07:47 AM

^^MI. Thanks for the initiative. Also, please ask them to clarify on the station location, access points and like.

prabhu007

January 19th, 2012, 07:52 AM

The Karnataka State Government is unlikely to reintroduce cess on petrol and diesel to raise funds for Namma Metro Phase II. The Government had levied the mass rapid transport and infrastructure cess on petrol and diesel between 1995 and 2002.

Instead, the government now proposes to levy cess on transactions involving immovable properties located on the alignment of Namma Metro Phase I as well as Phase II. It is yet to bring in legislation for this under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act.

The fuel cess, initially levied in Bangalore, was extended across the State following difficulty in earmarking the boundaries of Bangalore city. However, public raised a hue and cry and questioned why people in other regions should pay for Bangalore's infrastructure. This forced the government to withdraw the cess.

The Urban Development Department, which has proposed the cess on property, has contended that the actual beneficiaries of Namma Metro, in the form of escalation of property value, should be made to pay a portion of the additional income. By executing Namma Metro, the government has been utilising funds collected from across the State for Bangalore alone, and hence people outside Bangalore should not be made to pay again, sources in the Department said.

Between 1995-96 and 2001-2002, the government levied a cess of 25 paise per litre of petrol and 10 paise per litre of diesel in the State. The cess was levied for the purpose of equity investment in Infrastructure Development of Karnataka Ltd., and Bangalore Mass Transit Ltd., in the ratio of 67:33.

The petroleum dealer was supposed to pay the cess after collecting it from the consumer.

The government collected about Rs. 470 crore through the cess, according to sources in the Finance Department.

A senior Finance Department official told The Hindu that the earlier cess was apparently withdrawn following State-wide protests. Reintroducing the same and limiting it to Bangalore alone might not be feasible as it was difficult to earmark specific boundaries for fuel pumps. Also, the government does not want to overburden people, who are already affected by high price of petrol, the official added.

Source (http://www.thehindu.com/news/article...?homepage=true)

Why don't TN govt do such a thing to raise funds for Infra projects? I'm ready to pay 10 paise to a litre of diesel if the money is used for public infra development. And mainly, people using own automobiles have to be blamed for the mess on the roads. Agreed, govt is not providing proper public infra currently, but this is the way to go. they need funds to give a head-start. Using self owned automobiles should get costlier, only then public infra projects would get more attention. Thios move wouldn't bite on the budget so much. But when you see the revenue generated it will be in thousands of crores every year.

rsrikanth05

January 19th, 2012, 08:39 AM

Why don't TN govt do such a thing to raise funds for Infra projects? I'm ready to pay 10 paise to a litre of diesel if the money is used for public infra development. And mainly, people using own automobiles have to be blamed for the mess on the roads. Agreed, govt is not providing proper public infra currently, but this is the way to go. they need funds to give a head-start. Using self owned automobiles should get costlier, only then public infra projects would get more attention. Thios move wouldn't bite on the budget so much. But when you see the revenue generated it will be in thousands of crores every year.
KA and TN differ in finance systems.
For example, when it comes to roads, KA govt funds all roads form tax. Nothing is tolled. Whereas TN govt has built a Toll road thus freeing up tax reserves. This can easily be used.
But then any increase would mean the whole of West TN and Souther coastal TN burning public property.

ModernIndia

January 19th, 2012, 08:16 PM

Prabhu,
I did send them an email requesting them to publish the station render, cut away sections etc a couple of weeks back. I did not get any response. Yesterday, I had sent a reminder again. They have been prompt in responding so far. Let us see what happens.

bonoslack7

January 20th, 2012, 02:02 AM

Colour of train changed to blue.

Indian Sun

January 20th, 2012, 02:54 AM

^^ Yeah looks like it, from the website.

Blue looks ok too. But red was superb.

prabhu007

January 20th, 2012, 05:01 AM

Exactly. There is no match to that red theme. But let's feel happy. Red became blue, which looks okay-ish, unlike namma metro.! Shabbaaaa purple for a train! God!

Indian Sun

January 20th, 2012, 05:42 AM

Exactly. There is no match to that red theme. But let's feel happy. Red became blue, which looks okay-ish, unlike namma metro.! Shabbaaaa purple for a train! God!

If someone is buying popcorn, one for me too. Salted :)

rsrikanth05

January 20th, 2012, 06:43 AM

Exactly. There is no match to that red theme. But let's feel happy. Red became blue, which looks okay-ish, unlike namma metro.! Shabbaaaa purple for a train! God!
Le What?
IT's more of pink.
If someone is buying popcorn, one for me too. Salted :)

I'll take Butter.

sshivakumar

January 20th, 2012, 06:43 AM

This video was uploaded on 3rd Jan, not sure when it was shot.

aW1NNNy70vc

rsrikanth05

January 20th, 2012, 07:01 AM

^^ I like the shape of the pillars. That square gives it a more refined look.

prabhu007

January 20th, 2012, 12:16 PM

arun82

January 20th, 2012, 02:45 PM

Yeah, but I also like Soma's pillar design, and the viaduct shape as well. Sleek and smooth. What I hate is CCCL's design. Thinnest pillars, and widest pillar-tops of the whole lot. Not sure how this is gonna hold the road flyover!!!???

I dont think they will hold both the Metro and flyover. This thin design may be to accomodate the metro tracks and the station.

Since the flyover will be on the IRR. They will have to divert the traffic dug the middle of the IRR and put the flyover.

IRR traffic diversion is going to be painful and will bring the traffic to a standstill on all foursides.

Some one please click the Koyambedu- Thirumangalam section there are some monster pillars coming up. Near the larson showroom there is a maze of pillars dunno why?

Indian Sun

January 20th, 2012, 03:27 PM

^^ I like the shape of the pillars. That square gives it a more refined look.

Yeah easier to stick posters as well. The T. Nagar was poorly designed with a circular cross section and grooves, so posters can't be stuck properly :ohno: No vision at all.

prabhu007

January 20th, 2012, 04:18 PM

I dont think they will hold both the Metro and flyover. This thin design may be to accomodate the metro tracks and the station.

Since the flyover will be on the IRR. They will have to divert the traffic dug the middle of the IRR and put the flyover.

IRR traffic diversion is going to be painful and will bring the traffic to a standstill on all foursides.

Some one please click the Koyambedu- Thirumangalam section there are some monster pillars coming up. Near the larson showroom there is a maze of pillars dunno why?

I guess the Vadapalani flyover is still a mystery. This image depicts as if the flyovers will be using same pillars one on top of the other.

http://rishas.com/attachment/201009/3/222_1283528577OV2C.jpg

rsrikanth05

January 20th, 2012, 07:45 PM

^^ Render is nice, except it shows single lane.
I like the high heeled woman with a dog. :)

bonoslack7

January 21st, 2012, 02:04 AM

http://i.imgur.com/3Z50T.jpg

source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/myriadity/6730385407/sizes/l/in/photostream/

rsrikanth05

January 21st, 2012, 06:55 AM

^^ Where?

prabhu007

January 21st, 2012, 07:50 AM

It's annanagar tower station. II Avenue

arun82

January 21st, 2012, 08:13 AM

Are heritage bldgs safe, mayor asks metro officials

CHENNAI: Mayor Saidai Duraisamy discussed safety of heritage structures with Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) officials during a meeting held at Ripon building on Friday.

The transit system's underground tunnels and stations will be constructed near heritage structures like Victoria Hall and Ripon Building. Conservationists and experts have expressed concern about the effect tunnel boring will have on structures.

CMRL officials made a presentation about the status of the project to the mayor and corporation commissioner P W C Davidar to assure them there was no reason to worry about the effect the work would have on heritage buildings.

The meeting took place a day after Chennai Metropolitan Development Agency (CMDA) held a meeting with project contractors to evaluate steps being taken to ensure heritage structures are not affected. The focus on preservation of structures during construction of transit system came into focus after a fire destroyed Chepauk Palace last Monday.

CMRL has instructed contractors to take precautions when digging and boring near heritage buildings.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Are-heritage-bldgs-safe-mayor-asks-metro-officials/articleshow/11574383.cms

rsrikanth05

January 21st, 2012, 08:58 AM

It's annanagar tower station. II Avenue
Aaah, a UG station.
I was wondering.

natarajan1986

January 21st, 2012, 12:46 PM

There are a couple of metro conferences/summits coming up in Delhi and Bangalore with construction industry reps, consultants and MDs of Indian metro systems participating in them. The participation charges are a little high but usually this can be negotiated if you just want to check it out or are a student. The confirmed line up of attendees in each of them is pretty power packed so definitely worth attending.

2nd Annual Metro Expansion India
23 - 24 February, 2012, New Delhi
Website (http://www.iqpc.com/Event.aspx?id=643004)
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/3172/90426217.jpg

MetroRail India Summit 2012
February 23-24, Hotel Le Méridien, Bengaluru
Brochure (http://www.atpio.org/content/Other/Brochure-MetroRail%20India%202012.pdf?command=PublicNewsDisplay&id=3995)
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/2912/95269843.png

Metro Rail Asia
October 9 - 11, New Delhi
Website (http://www.terrapinn.com/2012/metrorail-asia/index.stm)
http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/6500/metrorailasiawebloe12cd.gif

cross posting

coolmukund

January 21st, 2012, 07:03 PM

1. The first Portal by Soma near CMBT almost ready
http://i.imgur.com/iFWWX.jpg

2. The median in front of Aishwarya Mahal near MMDA Signal. This is also the location of Arumbakkam Station
http://i.imgur.com/jUD5q.jpg

3. The wide pillars for Arumbakkam Station
http://i.imgur.com/YhYTT.jpg

coolmukund

January 21st, 2012, 07:09 PM

4. The beginning of CCCL's Vadapalani section. Note the railing on top of the parapet on the viaduct
http://i.imgur.com/Szyys.jpg

5. More pics from Vadapalani section with the parabolic pillar head.
http://i.imgur.com/YOmdz.jpg

6. Notice the height of the pillars gradually increasing
http://i.imgur.com/gH8nk.jpg

coolmukund

January 21st, 2012, 07:35 PM

7. The beams placed on top of the pillar at the vadapalani site.
http://i.imgur.com/9gcm6.jpg

8. The school near Hotel Bhimaas where demolition happened. the debry has been cleared. (not sure whether that was for metro)
http://i.imgur.com/DM3Qa.jpg

9. Demolition beginning at the row buildings which i mentioned in one of myearlier posts at Vadapalani
http://i.imgur.com/1xxyv.jpg

coolmukund

January 21st, 2012, 07:39 PM

10. A close look at the demolition work
http://i.imgur.com/DyzkY.jpg

11. Demolition in full force further down
http://i.imgur.com/qOaX4.jpg

12. A closer look
http://i.imgur.com/nGxie.jpg

coolmukund

January 21st, 2012, 07:48 PM

13. Beyond Vadapalani Signal
http://i.imgur.com/akwPJ.jpg

14. The end of Soma's "jurisdiction" and beginning of L&T's.
http://i.imgur.com/xHWok.jpg

15. The viaduct (L&T's) just beyond BSNL building near Udhayam theater.
http://i.imgur.com/QxSYI.jpg

proprashanth

January 21st, 2012, 07:53 PM

please can anyone tell me how will be the flyover placed over the metro rail bridge at vadapalani... i simply don't get how it will appear...

proprashanth

January 21st, 2012, 07:58 PM

wonderful updates coolmukund.. :)

coolmukund

January 21st, 2012, 08:01 PM

16. A closer look at the gantry with viaduct.
http://i.imgur.com/SqVz1.jpg

17. L&T's portal work near udhayam theater can be seen in the background
http://i.imgur.com/xopfC.jpg

18. Parapet launching gantry at Kasi theater
http://i.imgur.com/qUb5H.jpg

rsrikanth05

January 21st, 2012, 10:26 PM

please can anyone tell me how will be the flyover placed over the metro rail bridge at vadapalani... i simply don't get how it will appear...
The metro will pass over the flyover.

Who's building the flyover?
CCCL or Soma?

prabhu007

January 22nd, 2012, 07:32 AM

Metro will run on top of flyover. CCCL is gonna build it.

prabhu007

January 22nd, 2012, 07:35 AM

Brilliant updates Mukund!! :)

sridhar_n

January 22nd, 2012, 07:48 AM

Great updates, mukund....Vadapalani flyover design is still a mystery !!! Hope a pleasant surprise springs up!!

proprashanth

January 22nd, 2012, 09:31 AM

The metro will pass over the flyover.

Who's building the flyover?
CCCL or Soma?

thanks. if im not wrong i don't see any efforts being taken for building flyover at the moment... hope it gets started soon..

anekho

January 22nd, 2012, 11:05 AM

Metro rail put on fast track

The top brass of Chennai metro rail and city corporation are walking the extra mile together and improving coordination between themselves to ensure that the project, that is now progressing as per schedule, maintains its tempo.

A high-level team from Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL), led by its managing director K. Rajaraman, met the corporation officials at Ripon Buildings on Friday to discuss corporation assistance for the Rs 15,000 crore, prestigious project.

According to metro rail sources, a multimedia presentation was presented to Chennai mayor Saidai Duraisamy and corporation commissioner P.W.C. Davidar on how exactly metro rail would look like upon completion.

The corporation officials were briefed about the nature of works taken up at several vantage points and the status of the project. Tunnel boring works, diaphragm wall constructions and pile works are progressing across the city, sources said.

When contacted, Mr Davidar said it was a routine meeting for better understanding. The corporation has been providing necessary logistics to the metro rail project. Besides, it has provided places and parks to store construction materials, he explained.

CMRL, which has axed several avenue trees to ensure that the elevated and underground railway line is established, has intensified its massive tree planting programme as a damage control exercise.

It may be noted that the Madras high court had passed orders directing CMRL to plant saplings in the ratio of 1:10 for every tree axed. So far, CMRL has planted close to 12,000 saplings in Chennai.

Source (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/metro-rail-put-fast-track-488)

coolmukund

January 22nd, 2012, 11:57 AM

Thanks all.

Sorry for posting the pictures in huge sizes. The internet was cranky at home. So uploaded and shared the pics from mobile. Have resized the pics now. Hope you can view the pics as a whole at once now.

A couple of more pics coming up

coolmukund

January 22nd, 2012, 12:19 PM

19. Soil Testing / Piling going on beside the Adyar Rive bridge just after Kasi theater
http://i.imgur.com/YfDUU.jpg

20. The circular pillars across Adyar River.
http://i.imgur.com/B43fs.jpg

21. A closer look at the circular pillars. (Sorry for the blur)
http://i.imgur.com/96iGW.jpg

coolmukund

January 22nd, 2012, 12:24 PM

22. Initial works for the protals in front of Jaya TV office just after the Adyar River Bridge
http://i.imgur.com/FULir.jpg

23. The segment launching gantry waiting for the portals in the above picture to complete.
http://i.imgur.com/j3VlX.jpg

24. The parapet launching gantry in work near "Lords" at Ekkatuthangal.
http://i.imgur.com/YMM5F.jpg

prabhu007

January 22nd, 2012, 02:51 PM

Very good job mukund!!! Cheers!!! :)

prabhu007

January 22nd, 2012, 03:10 PM

This gives a fair idea of how the station framework would look like. This is a Namma Metro station.

> Viaduct connects to the station in the center
> Concourse level is the first level, supported by the center plus side pillars
> Carriage-way underneath (in this pic the road area is closed underneath)
> Beams for platforms on both sides
> Stairs are not visible in this pic

Hope this clarifies whoever had questions on how the stations would come up

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/8240/dsc01845b.jpg

think_different

January 22nd, 2012, 03:14 PM

Nice Photos. Thanks Mr.coolmukund.

one more video...
8R9ocuWElvU

vijayvmail

January 22nd, 2012, 03:30 PM

prabhu007

January 22nd, 2012, 04:24 PM

This seems to have the concourse directly below the lines over the road. I guess, in Chennai metro, it'll be on the sides in many stations.

Right. That is to avoid LA costs..

Keeran

January 22nd, 2012, 05:14 PM

Great effort CM. You have treated captions with equal importance as images. Thanks.

coolmukund

January 22nd, 2012, 07:54 PM

I have posted similar pics earlier. But each time i come to this room, the sight blows me out of my mind. I am waiting for the day snazzy trains will be zipping past me when i am in a meeting here. :D

http://i.imgur.com/4k7Ip.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YciUj.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/5bDpR.jpg

coolmukund

January 22nd, 2012, 07:57 PM

WARNING: The following pics are in negative / B&W prints. If the pics irritate anyone, please let me know, i will take them off. I found these pics pretty cool. so am sharing them.

http://i.imgur.com/rwJ22.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/4ujC3.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/q4cg7.jpg

coolmukund

January 22nd, 2012, 08:00 PM

http://i.imgur.com/rK1R6.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/SkNfs.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gYf7P.jpg

That's the end of my photo stream for now. Hope you all like it. Thanks for all the appreciation.

krishnaswamy

January 22nd, 2012, 08:16 PM

prabhu007

January 23rd, 2012, 07:14 AM

Super duper updates Mukund!! Keep it up :) :cheers:

prabhu007

January 23rd, 2012, 07:16 AM

Friends,
From the above photos, they have barricades from the pillar with 5 to 6 feets.
Once entire civil works completed, roads will be opened near to the pillar?
what is the plan on the medians between the pillars?

Yes, once civil works are complete the pre-cast centre medians would be installed between the pillars, and once they are in shape the barricades would be removed. But i'm not sure if new roads would be laid.

robertashok

January 23rd, 2012, 09:54 AM

@coolmukund, will you stick to the same company ??????

prabhu007

January 23rd, 2012, 01:09 PM

^^ Good question. If you ask me, I would say - I will stick to my current company (@Olmypia) at least for a few more years and utilize the "Metro advantage" :) To be frank, i've been in my present company for nearly 4 years bcos it is within city limits and easy to commute.. ha ha :)

Arul Murugan

January 23rd, 2012, 05:02 PM

^^

I wish you guys get job in Sipcot siruseri and have fun at Sholinganallur, SRP, Tidel park, Madhya Kailash traffic jam parks.:lol:

b/w cool pics CM. :cheers:

coolmukund

January 23rd, 2012, 07:51 PM

^^

I wish you guys get job in Sipcot siruseri and have fun at Sholinganallur, SRP, Tidel park, Madhya Kailash traffic jam parks.:lol:

b/w cool pics CM. :cheers:

Thanks

@coolmukund, will you stick to the same company ??????

Aah.... That's a question i need to think about. May be...... May be not..... My Heart says wait till metro begins, utilize it to the max and also take pics of trains zipping past from the conference room.........Mind says "Show me the Money!!!" lets see....

robertashok

January 24th, 2012, 03:44 PM

MRTS in Singapore does have the facility to keep your bags/luggage on the side, which is one big drawback.

We need it in Chennai Metro. Plus trains are not as fast as Tokyo Metro ones. Frequency is good.

I still feel, Metros is Tokyo had better capacity than Singapore.
though i never travelled in super-congested cabins in SG like in Tokyo.

Tokyo is mostly heavily crowded.

It is better we adapt the things/model and procedures as it is in Tokyo rather than Singapore.
Can somebody take it to CMRL.

Mahesh Nanjunda

January 24th, 2012, 04:01 PM

prabhu007

January 24th, 2012, 05:26 PM

^^ Oh yeah yeah!! :) Full credit to the photographer... :)

P.S: Are you the photographer btw??? ;)

Mahesh Nanjunda

January 25th, 2012, 05:22 AM

^^ Oh yeah yeah!! :) Full credit to the photographer... :)

P.S: Are you the photographer btw??? ;)

Yes, I took that photo on Sunday.

natarajan1986

January 25th, 2012, 07:33 AM

^^
semma timing prabu

murlee

January 25th, 2012, 09:23 PM

Metro underground work on fast track

Work on the underground stretch of metro rail project is progressing as fast as the elevated sections. The second set of tunnel boring machines (TBM) has arrived at Chennai, senior CMRL (Chennai metro rail limited) officials told Deccan Chronicle. The TBMs would be despatched to Washermanpet and Shenoy Nagar shortly, they added.

The first set of TBMs, which arrived late last year, has already been taken to the dredging sites in Washermanpet and Shenoy nagar. The two sets of TBMs would be assembled before February-end and dredging works started by early March, sources said.

However, all eyes are on the Madras high court which has reserved orders on a writ petition filed by some people from George Town seeking to restrain CMRL from constructing underground metro rail lines from Washermanpet to Mannadi as per the deviated alignment. The petitioners have also prayed for a direction to CMRL to run the train as per the original design.

As per the existing design, metro rail would run under buildings, incl-uding residential areas, in 240 spots in George Town/Mannadi, 110 in Chintadripet and 53 in Shenoy nagar.

Design and construction of underground stations and associated tunnels have also picked up pace with diaphragm wall panels and guide wall construction at Shenoy Nagar, Washermanpet, Mannadi, high court, Egmore, Teynampet, Saidapet and Chamiers Road underground stations progressing fast.
Similarly, utility identification and diversion work are in progress at Anna Nagar east, Anna Nagar tower and Tirumangalam stations and ramp area.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/metro-underground-work-fast-track-045

Leo_r

January 26th, 2012, 07:05 PM

They should start tunneling from High Court to Saidapet, instead of waiting for the case. Let Wahermenpet residents sort out the issue themselves first.

prabhu007

January 27th, 2012, 05:30 PM

Second set of TBMs have arrived at the Shenoy Nagar site. Guide wall construction is also visible in this pic (in BG).. I was able to see a lot more details but I could not capture those details in my mobile cam..

http://i.imgur.com/8iLX8.jpg

anekho

January 27th, 2012, 07:08 PM

HC dismisses plea against metro rail alignment

Chennai, Jan 27 (PTI): Madras High Court today dismissed a petition seeking to forbear the authorities from constructing an underground metro railway line between the heavily congested Washermanpet and Mannadi areas in the city following a deviation in the alignment. The George Town Building Owners Welfare Association had also sought a consequent direction to construct the railway line as per the original alignment. Submitting that the line was to run under a densely populated area where almost every house had only a single well to meet their water requirements, the petitioner claimed that nearly 5000 houses would be affected by the new alignment. Besides, the proposed excavation at 33 feet below the surface of the earth was likely to pose a grave danger to the lives of the people and safety of the houses as it would cause massive vibrations. In its counter, the Chennai Metro-Rail Ltd said the route from Mannadi to Washermanpet was found to be the shortest. Besides, the alignment at Old Jail Road was not found to be technically feasible. The counter said that since the tunnel would run through sand-clayey stratum the pressure required for advancement by the tunnel boring machine would be less and the viberations substantially low. The company had served notices asking the people to close borewells and wells along the restricted corridor after providing alternative borewells or a compensation of Rs one lakh, after making house to house visits. In his order, Justice Vinod K Sharma held there was no merit in the petition and dismissed it.

Source (http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/hc-dismisses-plea-against-metro-rail-alignment/956934.html)

Vicvin86

January 28th, 2012, 05:24 AM

May 1st 2011
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/5029/img8649d.jpg
By vintn (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/vintn) at 2011-05-01

Jan 22nd 2012
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/1661/img7255h.jpg
By vintn (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/vintn) at 2012-01-27

CIPET Station
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/9260/img7257i.jpg
By vintn (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/vintn) at 2012-01-27

senthilkumark

January 28th, 2012, 05:54 AM

CHENNAI: The apprehension of George Town residents that underground tunnelling works for a metro rail corridor - 33 ft below the houses in the area - will endanger public safety, is misconceived, the Madras high court has said.

Justice Vinod K Sharma, dismissing a PIL of the George Town Building Owners Welfare Association on Friday, said Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) had stated in court that work on the tunnels and other structures is being done in a safe manner.

The PIL, assailing a 'change' in alignment from Washermenpet to Mannadi, said that instead of the original proposal of having the corridor via the Old Jail Road and Prakasam Road, the deviated alignment passed through Seven Well and George Town. The deviation will affect at least 3,000 to 5,000 houses, the PIL said.

Rebutting the allegations in the PIL, the CMRL however, submitted the vibrations generated during tunneling would be substantially low, and that too would be absorbed by the sand-clay stratum below the residents' houses. "People living in houses above will not even feel it and this will have negligible effect on the structures above. This practice of tunneling below buildings has been in many places worldwide and is a proven method," the CMRL said in its counter.

Identified residents, who have to close the tube wells and open wells, will have an option of choosing 1 lakh as compensation or the company-provided alternative borewells. By a notice dated November 28, 2011, the CMRL has asked owners/tenants of buildings to close borewells and open wells within the restricted zone of 16.5 metres on either side of the metro rail alignment.

As for the allegation of change in alignment, the CMRL said the selected alignment was the shortest from Washermenpet to Mannadi and that the Old Jail Road was not technically feasible.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Residents-will-have-to-live-with-metro-rumble/articleshow/11658136.cms

pxp

January 28th, 2012, 08:39 AM

Vicvin
metro developments nicely captured :cheers:

murlee

January 29th, 2012, 04:13 AM

Metro Rail readies to dig deep

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00906/28Janthajs02_metro__906900e.jpg

The site in Washermenpet where Metro Rail has begun constructing a shaft

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited has started constructing shafts for launching Tunnel Boring Machines in three locations – Washermenpet, Shenoy Nagar and Nehru Park.

While an initial batch of two TBMs arrived from China in the second week of December, two more arrived last week. A total of 11 TBMs would eventually be involved in the construction of the city's underground metro network.

CMRL Managing Director K. Rajaraman said that since tunnelling work cannot be put on hold till underground stations start taking shape, vertical shafts that go to a depth of 20-25 metre are being built to lower the TBMs. “These shafts would eventually be integrated into the station itself. For now, concrete walls would be built to serve as an enclosure for the shaft. Until the base wall is constructed, there would be some amount of water intrusion and it would be constantly pumped out.”

In some locations, such as near the Madras Medical College, excavation teams hit water just half-a-metre below the ground, a senior CMRL official said. The Chennai Central underground metro station, which is slated to be built at a depth of 25 metre, would be the most distant from the ground level and also the largest.

“Once the shafts begin to take shape, the TBM would be lowered inside as six distinct pieces and assembled underground,” Mr.Rajaraman said.

By April, large-scale traffic diversions would start coming into effect in 20 locations across the city, he added. They would be in place till the fag end of 2015.

The Chennai Metro Rail project has two corridors – Washermenpet to Airport and Chennai Central to St. Thomas Mount. A portion of the metro alignment on Corridor-I, between Washermenpet – Saidapet ramp, and on Corridor-II, between Central and Thirumangalam ramp, runs as underground tunnels. Of the 36 upcoming metro stations, 20 would be underground.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2841650.ece

ModernIndia

January 30th, 2012, 02:48 PM

I had sent an email to CMRL asking them to publish the station renders. Here is the response I received today.

Dear xxxx,
The design of the station will be published in future Newsletters.
Thankyou for the interest shown on Chennai Metro Rail.
With regards,
PRO.

I dont think it will be published in Jan Newsletter as it may be too late. Let us see if we get a glimpse in Feb or March.

Mad 4 Madras

January 30th, 2012, 05:08 PM

CC to whoever from the fake CMRL facebook page

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/420288_229679387116932_154701661281372_546196_206969788_n.jpg

natarajan1986

January 30th, 2012, 07:06 PM

^^^^
they themselves said they are not official but just information then what is there to say fake ,only if they pretend you can use it

vijayvmail

January 31st, 2012, 05:27 AM

There seems to be lot of problems in the new terminal construction at the airport. AAI is citing severe financial crunch and a number of important amenities seem to be left out.

In this scenario, are they paying any attention to the Airport Metro station? Considering their problems, from their point of view, the metro station would be 'nice to have' feature, but not so important. Beyond Trident hotel, a lot of work needs to be done to construct metro. Lots of land need to be acquired or at least handed over, building demolished, land inside airport complex cleared for station...

Will this stretch happen at least by 2020?

prabhu007

January 31st, 2012, 10:11 AM

^^Very valid question. Let's see.. I guess that stretch would be opened to traffic at the sametime when UG sections are opened. Let's see....

mr_madras

January 31st, 2012, 10:38 AM

There seems to be lot of problems in the new terminal construction at the airport. AAI is citing severe financial crunch and a number of important amenities seem to be left out.
Will this stretch happen at least by 2020?

No need to worry lot eventhough AAI involved. CMRL is getting stronger day by day and till date they have come across many hurdles and hope definitely we can travel METRO from airport by 2015.
if AAI not co-operating then best alternate option is to have station along with thirusoolam station and later easily can extend to pallavaram.

Mad 4 Madras

January 31st, 2012, 12:45 PM

^^^^
they themselves said they are not official but just information then what is there to say fake ,only if they pretend you can use it
You may not be aware how they pretended to be original before. They used to unsubscribe you immediately you ask a question for which they don't had an answer. It was so irritating and they were irresponsible. After several complains to CMRL, they (fakers) were forced to announce they are unofficial site.

Whats wrong in calling fake as fake?

Sundaravelu

January 31st, 2012, 01:53 PM

1. Out of two portals beside Udayam theater one potal construction is over and another one in progress
2. Building demolition is in progress adjacent to Kasi theater bridge at kasi theater end
3. Piles foundation are being constructed on other end of bridge
4. Pillars in progress on the side of IRR just after bridge for portal construction
5. Pile foundation in progress at the beginning of kathipara at OTP end and in front of Thamarai tech park for portals
6. Near ashargana, steel rods for three pillars visible above the ground and pit has been dug up for three pillars near St. thomas mount station

krishnaswamy

February 1st, 2012, 12:01 AM

later easily can extend to pallavaram.
In fact that will be very good..
1. mono rail is planned from Pallavaram to Poonamallee... that place is getting densely populated now. around Thiruneermalai too, lot of residential projects are coming..
2. Pallavaram radial road connectivity. mono rail or light tail or BRTS on pallavaram radial road to OMR.. will be excellent.

mr_madras

February 1st, 2012, 10:57 AM

Is there any provision for creating additional stations in between the planned one?
i personally feel there should be some more stations especially in CBD area and avg dist between stations in core city should be 1-1.2Km to attract more crowd even for short distance otherwise people prefer bus.
Spencers/TVS, DMS in anna salai and Ega/taylors rd,Omni bus stand,laxman shruti locations worth to have stations.

prabhu007

February 1st, 2012, 04:06 PM

^^Very true. Especially Omni Bus stand and DMS badly needs a station

murlee

February 1st, 2012, 05:04 PM

CMRL steps up financial outlay for Metrorail

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/dynamic/00910/chennai-metro_910213f.jpg

The financial outlay of Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) is Rs 3,973 crore for the current year which is triple that of last year, according to the company's annual report for 2010-11 tabled in the Assembly today.

The total financial outlay as of March 31, 2011, was Rs 1,112 crore.

Outlining the progress of the project, the report says the design and construction contracts for 12 elevated stations including St Thomas Mount and Meenambakkam, 19 underground stations and related tunnels and track works at all the stations have been awarded during the year. CMRL has also disbursed mobilisation advance to the contractors to start work.

MILESTONES

Some of the important milestones during the year include the engagement of International Finance Corporation to compile a study to outsource the operation and maintenance activity. It is in the process of compiling the Transaction and Structure Report, National Productivity Council has done a study for an organisational restructure during the construction phase and Wipro Ltd has supported the establishment of a Document Management System, says the report.

The authorised share capital of the company has also been hiked to Rs 3,000 crore in line with the size of the proposed investment of Rs 14,600 crore for the metro rail project.

According to information available on the official Web site, the preliminary information memorandum for the O&M contract says in the first phase of the project, two corridors totalling 45 km including a 23-km stretch from Washermanpet in North Chennai to the Airport Via Chennai Central Station and Anna Salai and a second corridor of 22 km from Chennai Central to St Thomas Mount via Anna Nagar and Koyambedu have been taken up for work in the first phase, which will be ready in three stages.

By the end of next year, Chennai is to get a 11-km metrorail from Koyambedu to St Thomas Mount. This will be followed up with an 8 km stretch between Chennai Airport to Little Mount and from the Airport to Koyambedu in mid 2014. The entire first phase is expected to be in operation in 2015.

CMRL is jointly owned by the Government of India and the State Government.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article2851093.ece?ref=wl_industry-and-economy

vijayvmail

February 1st, 2012, 05:24 PM

^^where is the above photo taken?

murlee

February 1st, 2012, 05:33 PM

koyambedu

vijayvmail

February 2nd, 2012, 05:37 AM

http://epaper.dinamalar.com/PUBLICATIONS/DM/DINAMALAR/2012/02/02/Article//007/02_02_2012_007_009.jpg

Source: dinamalar, chennai edition, dated 02-02-2012

Translation:

Most of the article is pretty much a recap of the Metro route from OTA to airport.

- The stretch between OTA and airport was delayed due to difference with AAI, land acquisition, alignment finalization etc. Now these have been resolved and work has started
- From Radisson to Courier office 500 m away, the line will be underground.
- After that it'll go elevated over the GST road median
- Before meenambakkam flyover, it'll again go to the road side and enter airport
- Station will come up at the place where the airport police station is currently present

- Now pillar construction on the GST road median has commenced in Meenambakkam
- Station construction inside airport will start in a few days

vijayvmail

February 2nd, 2012, 05:51 AM

http://epaper.dinamalar.com/PUBLICATIONS/DM/DINAMALAR/2012/02/02/Article//101/02_02_2012_101_043.jpg

Source: Dinamalar, chennai edition, dated 02-02-2012

Translation:
- Chennai Metro rail coaches are being manufactured by Alstom at a cost of Rs 1471.39 crores
- The company will handle coach design, manufacturing, test runs and operational training activities
- The company is manufacturing these coaches from its Brazil plant

- Work on the Koyambedu - St. Thomas mount has been quickened to complete by next year June. So, the coaches have to be ready by then
- the coaches will start coming to Chennai from december 2012

According to one CMRL official:
- Metro works are progressing faster than anticipated.
- The tunneling will start by this march end or april
- Of the contracted 168 Metro coaches, 60% will arrive between Dec 2012 to March 2013. the rest will arrive before Dec 2014.
- For this purpose the tracks in Koyambedu Yard and the test tracks will be completed by Oct 2012

- If all goes well, the stretch between Koyambedu and St. thomas mount will be inaugarated in Dec 2013 or Jan 2014
- Once the entire 45 kms are completed, 5 lakh people can travel per day on the system.

The Inset box says:
- Metro trains will initially have 4 coaches with a total capacity of 1276 ppl per train
- Later based on passenger load, 6 car train may be introduced
- all trains are air-conditioned
- Comfortable seats, auto closing doors, automated voice announcements, automated ticket vending etc are some features
- Trains will ply every 3 minutes. Their maximum speed is 80 kmph

vijayvmail

February 2nd, 2012, 05:54 AM

^^ they have just taken the coach design from the CMRL website.

2 weeks back, when this blue design first appeared on the website, I mailed CMRL asking if the finalized Coach designs have come out. I have so far not received any response.

Somehow, 'ModernIndia' alone seems to be getting responses from CMRL. Can you contact CMRL and get some info on the final design of the coaches? Most of us are eager to see them.

ModernIndia

February 2nd, 2012, 07:35 AM

Vijay...
Sure, I will try. The trick is to send a polite follow up email if they don't respond. The "gmail" email address on their website is same for RTI as well. They will have to respond to your emails, especially if you follow up.

vijayvmail

February 2nd, 2012, 09:48 AM

vijayvmail

February 2nd, 2012, 10:10 AM

Kid peddles cycle path under Metro

Adithyaa Raghavan moots building of ‘flyovers’ for cyclists and pedestrians in the space under the elevated Metro Rail tracks

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/printarticle.aspx?page=comments&action=translate&sectid=10&contentid=2012020120120201034104790bc100c92&subsite=

Cross posted from Bangalore Metro thread.

This seems to be a pretty decent idea. In our case, this will be really helpful especially in areas like the IRR.

These walkways can also be connected to cycle stands near the stations, Koyambedu bus stand and even the vegetable market. There will be overbridges across the road at regular intervals to help cyclists go to ground level or enter the ramps.

The concourse or ground levels of the Road side station can have cycle stands and these can have direct entry to the ramps

murlee

February 3rd, 2012, 04:44 AM

Tailor-made IIT course to train engineers for metro rail

IIT-Madras has started a postgraduate diploma programme in metro rail engineering and management in association with Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL). The first batch of students of this customised course will pass out in a few months and join CMRL.

“We need qualified people who can handle both the technical and management sides of the operations. The oneyear course will help us get a talented workforce for the future,” said a senior CMRLofficial.

The BTech graduates who are doing the course learn the nuances of contract management, including how to float tenders for projects. “There are a lot of management lessons and I can apply whatever I learn as soon as I start working,” said S Bhavya, a student.

The technical aspects are equally important. “It is a highly specialised field that needs engineers who have a good understanding of civil, mechanical, electrical, and electronics and communication engineering,” said R G Robinson, associate professor, civil engineering, IIT-M. The course has been structured so that students will learn more about these streams.
Apart from IIT professors, retired Indian Railways professionals have been roped in to provide training in signalling and station design. The only other institution that offers a similar course is IIT-Delhi, which has been running a programme in association with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for about two years.

IIT-M has been running an MTech programme for infrastructure company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for more than a decade. “L&T is huge and needs people with training in technical and management components,” said Robinson.

Since metro rail engineering is a specialised course, only students with a BTech in civil, mechanical, electrical, or electronics and communication, can apply. Candidates are shortlisted based on their score in the Graduate Aptitude Test in engineering and a qualifying examination. Those selected receive a monthly stipend of 20,000 from CMRL.

“The first batch, which will pass out in July 2012, will have to work for CMRL for the next five years. Students find it attractive as it is a core engineering area and the metro system is coming up in many Indian cities,” said Robinson.
Students also see opportunities in the field. “There is also scope for the students to work abroad later as most major cities have metro rail systems,” said a senior official.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2012/02/03&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00401&ViewMode=HTML

vijayvmail

February 3rd, 2012, 05:23 AM

Here we go!!

Pic taken after crossing Ambal nagar signal towards Kathipara.
http://i.imgur.com/H1pjg.jpg

Sorry for the poor quality, this pic was taken from inside my car. And sorry for the poor illustration, paint is the only image editing tool available in my office :)

> Note the barricaded area in the middle. This area is going to have huge steel frameworks which will support the platform beams exactly on top of this area. Note the alignment, it is exactly beneath the end of those Y shaped pillars. After the platforms are cast the frameworks would move on to the next area. Once whole platform work is done this framework would be removed. No pillars would be there on the carriage-way.

> Exactly parallel to this barricaded area, on the left hand side pedestrian median huge T shaped pillars would arise. One side of the pillar will support the station building and the other side will connect to the platforms raised over the central pillars.

We were discussing about the barriers that have been put up in the center of the carriage way at the SIDCO station site.

Today, I happened to peep inside the barriers while passing through that area. Now they have dug a deep pit inside the barriers. It seems to run for the entire length of the barrier. Not sure why a pit is being dug. We thought it will just hold the steet frames needed to construct platforms above.

ON another note, they have started removing barriers even before SIDCO station. The central median has been constructed and today morning they were laying the road inside the barricaded area to make it motorable. Hopefully, they'll soon start removing the barricades along the entire stretch.

prabhu007

February 3rd, 2012, 07:38 AM

We were discussing about the barriers that have been put up in the center of the carriage way at the SIDCO station site.

Today, I happened to peep inside the barriers while passing through that area. Now they have dug a deep pit inside the barriers. It seems to run for the entire length of the barrier. Not sure why a pit is being dug. We thought it will just hold the steet frames needed to construct platforms above.

ON another note, they have started removing barriers even before SIDCO station. The central median has been constructed and today morning they were laying the road inside the barricaded area to make it motorable. Hopefully, they'll soon start removing the barricades along the entire stretch.

Very good observation.. I was having the same question. May be they want a strong platform for the steel works, (tar might sink or give way) Let's wait and watch what do they do with this middle barricaded patch. And on the road laying thing.. once they finish laying roads they will barricade the side part of the road. We will have to live with the same road width for another year. :(

vijayvmail

February 3rd, 2012, 09:45 AM

Very good observation.. I was having the same question. May be they want a strong platform for the steel works, (tar might sink or give way) Let's wait and watch what do they do with this middle barricaded patch. And on the road laying thing.. once they finish laying roads they will barricade the side part of the road. We will have to live with the same road width for another year. :(

Won't the side part be barricaded only near the stations? Hope they clear up the other areas.

vijayvmail

February 3rd, 2012, 09:49 AM

http://img.dinamalar.com/data/uploads/distimg_1223025131000000.jpg
கோயம்பேடு-வடபழனி இடையே அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள மெட்ரோ ரயில் பாதையில் தடுப்புச் சுவர் அமைக்கும் பணி முடியும் தருவாயில், தண்டவாளம் அமைப்பதற்கான அடிதட்டு பணி துவங்கி நடந்து வருகிறது.

Source: Dinamalar, chennai edition, dated 03-02-2012

Caption reads: As the parapet wall construction comes to a close between Koyambedu and Vadapalani, base works for track laying has started. :banana::banana::banana:

Very good photo. One of the first views of the top side with the parapet walls and an outline of the track. Gives a very good perspective of the width of the thing.

vijayvmail

February 3rd, 2012, 09:55 AM

சென்னை :மெட்ரோ ரயில் சுரங்கப்பாதை அமைப்பதற்கு ஏதுவாக, பள்ளம் தோண்டும் பணி வண்ணாரப்பேட்டை நிலையத்தில் துவங்கியது. சென்னை மெட்ரோ ரயில் திட்டத்தில், வண்ணாரப்பேட்டை, ஷெனாய் நகர் உட்பட, 20 நிலையங்கள் சுரங்கப்பாதையில் அமைகின்றன. தரையின் மேற்பரப்பிலிருந்து, 9 மீட்டர் ஆழத்திற்கு கீழ், 5.8 மீட்டர் அளவு உள் விட்டமும், 6.2 மீட்டர் அளவு வெளி விட்டம் கொண்டதாகவும் சுரங்கப்பாதை அமைக்கப்பட உள்ளது.
சுரங்கப்பாதை அமைக்கவும், சுரங்க ரயில் நிலையம் அமைக்கவும், ஒவ்வொரு நிலையத்திலும், 200 மீட்டர் நீளம், 20 மீட்டர் அகலம், 17 மீட்டர் ஆழத்திற்கு பள்ளம் தோட்டப்பட்டு, தரையின் மேற்பகுதியிலிருந்து, 9 மீட்டருக்கு கீழ், இருவழி சுரங்கப்பாதை டனல் போரிங் மிஷின் மூலம் தோண்டப்பட உள்ளது.

இத்திட்டத்தில், முதல் கட்டமாக வண்ணாரப்பேட்டை மற்றும் ஷெனாய் நகர் நிலையங்களிலிருந்து சுரங்கப்பாதை தோண்டப்பட உள்ளது. இதற்காக, வண்ணாரப்பேட்டை நிலையத்தில், பள்ளம் தோண்டும் பணி நேற்று துவங்கியது. ஷெனாய் நகர் நிலையத்தில், சில தினங்களில் பள்ளம் தோண்டும் பணி துவங்கப்பட உள்ளது. பள்ளம் தோண்டும் பணி, மார்ச்சுக்குள் முடிக்கப்பட்டு, ஏப்ரலில் சுரங்கப்பாதை அமைக்கும் பணி துவங்கப்பட உள்ளது.

http://img.dinamalar.com/data/large/Tamil_News_large_398438.jpg

Source: Dinamalar, Chennai edition, dated 03-Feb-2012 (http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?id=398438)

Translation:
It is basically a recap of the UG specification.

- UG works are happening at 20 points across the lines. This include tunnelling as well as station works.

As part of this, the trench digging activity to lower the TBM has started in Washermanpet.

The photo shows the stretch of PH road near Sangam theatre. This stretch has been made a one way along with many other surrounding roads. Despite this, there are big traffic jams as more than half the road is barricaded.