Koyambedu: Koyambedu Could Be Next Metrorail Hub

CHENNAI: A few years from now, Koyambedu could become a metrorail hub linking at least three corridors where residents of Ambattur and Avadi can switch trains to reach different parts of the city.Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) plans to build an elevated station at Koyambedu in the phase-2 project above the existing phase-1 metro station. The phase-2 station will have provision to build more platforms to extend lines to Avadi. In phase-2, Koyambedu is part of the 47km corridor-5 from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur.Earlier, CMRL spokesperson L Girirajan said Koyambedu will link corridor-5 of phase-2 with corridor-2 of phase-1 from Central to St Thomas Mount, and also connect the future Thirumangalam-Avadi extension line. "We have tweaked the design of the phase-2 station at Koyambedu to leave structural provisions to build additional platforms for the extension line to Avadi.

We will link those platforms with the concourse or ticketing level of the phase-2 station, which will be linked with the phase-1 station," a metro rail official said.This means, residents of Mogappair, Ambattur and Avadi wanting to travel to Central or Egmore railway stations can switch platforms at Koyambedu using escalator or elevators. They can also board a direct train to the airport by switching platforms. Koyambedu will also be the station for residents from west suburbs to change platforms and travel to Madhavaram or the IT corridor on OMR.Koyambedu, which was not originally part of phase-2, was later included after CMRL changed the alignment and scrapped a second metro station planned in CMBT as the bus terminus was going to be shifted.

The realignment was also to avoid traffic congestion on main roads and pass over the phase-1 corridor to finish construction of phase-2 corridor faster.Residents of Avadi said the west suburbs of the city has all the major infrastructure including educational institutions, IT parks and defence facilities, but does not have proper transport connectivity. "It takes nearly an hour to travel from Avadi to Anna Nagar by road.

Metro trains will cut that travel time considerably, ease our commute particularly during the rainy season when the roads get inundated and choked with traffic," said Muralikanth, a resident from Avadi.