In a few years, tourists and visitors can take the Chennai Metro straight to the city’s iconic Marina beach, where an underground station is being planned.
Named Light House station, it will be built right under the Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai and Kamarajar Salai junction, and beneath the Gandhi statue.
This station — meant to serve as a terminal station for the stretch between Light House and Poonamallee — will be located close to the Queen Mary’s College, Tamil Nadu Police Headquarters and Light House.
The Light House Metro station will be built at a depth of about 18-20 metres below the ground and has been planned in a manner to benefit tourists who specially make a trip to the Marina while visiting the city.
Soil tests on
According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), they have already begun doing the soil tests near the Marina beach to know the geological conditions and accordingly carry out the construction of the underground station.
“There will be two entry/exits for this station, and one of it will be near the Light House. Marina and the Light House already attract a huge number of tourists and hence, we estimate a good number of people will take the station,” an official said.
Study by CMRL
According to a study by CMRL, the Light House area sees about 55,000 vehicles passing through it on a daily basis.
A sizeable number from this could be transferred to the Chennai Metro with the construction of this station, officials hope. An estimate in the study shows that by 2035, there could be about 1,700 people using this station during peak hours everyday.
CRZ clearance?
When asked, if they will need Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance to build this station, the CMRL officials said that it may not be necessary. “There is a service road near the Marina beach. We don’t need CRZ clearance,” an official said.
One of the main concerns of the CMRL officials is that there are no dedicated bus bays in the Light House area now and they plan to create it, along with the building of the station.