LIC, Thousand Lights metro stations to get 2 more entrances each by May-end

CHENNAI: It has been two months since the metro rail stations of LIC and Thousand Lights have been thrown open for public, but commuters will have to wait for at least another month to get easy access to these stations. Two more entry points for each of these stations will be ready by the end of May.

The two stations were part of the last leg of the 45km phase-1 from Washermenpet to AG-DMS, which was opened on February 10. But the two stations on Anna Salai still function with only two entry points in place of the four planned.

“All the digging and the civil work is complete. Interior work is going on and the area surrounding the entry points are being restored. They will be opened by mid-May or end of May,” said a metro rail official. Workers have started laying layers of bitumen on some portions of the stretch, as work to get the road ready for two-way trafic is under progress.


In the absence of two entry points at the stations, commuters have to walk extra to access the stations. At Thousand Lights, there are two entry points — one adjacent to and the other opposite to British Council. Two other entrances are getting ready a little away from TVS. This means people walking from Spencer Plaza to board a train at Thousand Lights have to walk another 500 feet to access the station from the entrance next to British Council instead of a nearer entry point which is under construction.

Commuters trying to board trains from LIC will have to put up with the same inconvenience. The station has two entry points — one next to LIC building and the other on the opposite side. A commuter walking from Spencer Plaza will have to go past LIC building to access the station till a nearer entry gets ready.

Till then, motorists will also have lesser carriage way. Metro officials said twoway traffic will be restored on the stretch between Chennai:and Thousand Lights after the extra entry points are opened. Now, motorists take a circuitous route, as the stretch between LIC and Thousand Lights is one-way.