CHENNAI: In a few years, when phase-2 opens to the public, commuters can switch lines at seven places to reach core areas and suburbs as Chennai Metro Rail Limited will build a phase-2 station near the existing phase-1 stations.
Such stations will come up near Alandur, Nandanam, Thousand Lights, Vadapalani, CMBT, Thirumangalam and Kilpauk stations that are currently operating as part of the 45km phase-1. The stations in both phases will be linked by a foot over-bridge or pedestrian subways for easy access. The 118.9km phase-2 is expected to be ready by 2025.
An official said the phase-2 station at Alandur will be behind the existing station that serves as an elevated transit hub linking two corridors of phase-1. "A foot over-bridge will link the concourse level of phase-2 with the lower platform level of phase-1."
At Kilpauk, a station has been planned below a road opposite KMC Hospital and will be linked to the existing underground station with an exclusive subway.
To reach transport hubs like the airport, Central, Egmore or CMBT, Alandur and CMBT metro will serve as the switch-over stations for residents from west, south-west and north-west suburbs like Porur, Poonamallee, Madipakkam, Perumbakkam, Villivakkam and Kolathur. For those from areas like Moolakadai; Perambur and Ayanavaram, Kilpauk and Thousand Lights metro will be the change-over stations.
Nandanam and Vadapalani will be stations to switch for those from southern suburbs like Thiruvanmiyur and Taramani, while those in and around Sholinganallur can change lines at Alandur to reach the transport hubs. Commuters boarding trains in any phase-1 metro stations and intending to reach Panagal park metro station for shopping at T Nagar can switch lines at Nandanam or Vadapalani. "There is St Thomas Mount station in phase-2 as well but we will not be constructing a separate station next to the existing phase-1 station. Instead, we will link the phase-2 tracks with the phase-1 station," an official said.
