New areas under MRTS to witness realty boom in Chennai

CHENNAI: After the recent test runs of Chenai Metro Train from Koyambedu terminus to Ashok Nagar on the elevated corridor, all eyes now on the emerging new routes that the phase II of the project would connect in future.

The government has recently announced its ambitious plan to connect some of the fast growing neighbourhood areas in West parts of the city such as Iyyappanthangal, Kattupakkam and Poonamalle along with Muggapair, Padi and Kolathur with Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS).

There will be a new line of Monorail network connecting Vadapalani to Poonamalle via Porur. The line will pass through the busy and congested Arcot Road, say sources.

According to sources, the government would soon begin a feasibility study on expanding metro rail network to connect fast developing neighbourhood on the west of Koyambedu and Poonamallee which are not connected by the MRTS.

The expansion idea is to build small stretches and connect them to other modes of transport including monorail. The study will exploit the possibility of having metro rail on two routes - one originating from Chennai Central Station towards Poonamallee High Road, and a second one from Koyambedu towards the Western suburbs. Sources said the routes and stations of the phase II corridors would be decided later.

Once the metro rail routes are identified, the government would commission a feasibility study, cost and detailed project report.

Some of the areas with would witness real estate appreciation due to commissioning of new metro and monorail routes are Mogappair, Padi, Ambattur, Kolathur, Thiruverkadu, Kumananchavadi, Iyyappanthangal, Kattupakkam, Poonamalle and adjoining areas.

"The government would be looking to fill in gaps in the network of the existing metro rail and mono rail lines that has been sanctioned for construction. In the last few years, several neighbourhoods have grown and there is a demand for fast and hassle-free public transport connectivity to different areas," said an official.

Officials want to solve the problem of limited connectivity options, through phase II of the metro rail project, by integrating different modes of public transport, said a senior government official. "We are primarily looking at areas not covered by phase I on Poonamallee High Road and the northern areas. This corridor may begin from Chennai Central," he said, adding, that the second corridor is to be extended from Koyambedu towards the western and the northwestern parts of the city.

Official said that the government would plan the new routes after considering demands from people who live in developing areas such as Mogappair, Padi, Ambattur and Kolathur and after studying several factors including the emerging industrial trend, real estate development and enormous level of migration.

While addressing the state assembly recently, governor K Rosaiah said the government would ensure faster clearance of Washermenpet to Thiruvottriyur corridor, besides taking up the detailed project report for phase II of the project in the newly-identified corridors.

Besides metro rail, an extended MRTS that connects Velachery to St Thomas Mount, development of outer ring roads, and an elevated freight corridor are some of the projects would not only reduce the congestion on city roads, but also trigger rapid real estate development in the concerned areas, feel realty experts.