CHENNAI: It’s been six months since metro rail services began in North Chennai but the depot at Wimco Nagar, meant to maintain trains run on the route, is not ready. It was supposed to be completed this month but CMRL has now revised the deadline and is aiming to commission it in January 2022.
The elevated depot, which is being built on a 48,000sqm plot with provision to accommodate a 20-storey apartment complex with sea view in the future, was expected to be ready by August this year after they could not meet the earlier deadline of December 2020.
The construction of the depot started at around the same time as the 9km phase-1 extension line from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar in 2016. While the line with seven stations was opened in February 2021, the work on the depot was delayed due to the pandemicinduced lockdown last year.
Around 70% of civil and system works were completed early this year and the officials were confident to open it by August. However, the deadline has been revised further.
A senior official of CMRL said, “Civil work will be completed by October end. Systems work will be completed in December 2021 and the depot will be commissioned in January 2022.”
Of the 48,000sqm land, the depot is being built on 15,500sqm with facilities including a 1,055sqm auto coach washing plant, 11 stabling lines, training and rest areas for the depot staff. There will also be three levels for future property development. The stabling lines will be used to for daily maintenance and parking of the trains operated on the 32.1km corridor from Wimco Nagar to Airport via Anna Salai. “The depot will conduct only minor repair work. Major maintenance work and overhaul will be done in Koyambedu depot,” an official said.
A small station will also be attached to the depot for the movement of staff and people who may use the apartment complex-.Officials said the remaining part of the land will have a four-level car park below the elevated depot and a 20-storey building above the depot, which may have commercial or residential space to accommodate 4,000 families. The apartments will have sea views as the facility is 600m away from the beach. These will be built after completing the depot.
Servicing and maintenance of CMRL’s present fleet of 52 trains is done in Koyambedu depot. This includes 10 new trains which were procured for the 9km extension line.
The elevated depot, which is being built on a 48,000sqm plot with provision to accommodate a 20-storey apartment complex with sea view in the future, was expected to be ready by August this year after they could not meet the earlier deadline of December 2020.
The construction of the depot started at around the same time as the 9km phase-1 extension line from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar in 2016. While the line with seven stations was opened in February 2021, the work on the depot was delayed due to the pandemicinduced lockdown last year.
Around 70% of civil and system works were completed early this year and the officials were confident to open it by August. However, the deadline has been revised further.
A senior official of CMRL said, “Civil work will be completed by October end. Systems work will be completed in December 2021 and the depot will be commissioned in January 2022.”
Of the 48,000sqm land, the depot is being built on 15,500sqm with facilities including a 1,055sqm auto coach washing plant, 11 stabling lines, training and rest areas for the depot staff. There will also be three levels for future property development. The stabling lines will be used to for daily maintenance and parking of the trains operated on the 32.1km corridor from Wimco Nagar to Airport via Anna Salai. “The depot will conduct only minor repair work. Major maintenance work and overhaul will be done in Koyambedu depot,” an official said.
A small station will also be attached to the depot for the movement of staff and people who may use the apartment complex-.Officials said the remaining part of the land will have a four-level car park below the elevated depot and a 20-storey building above the depot, which may have commercial or residential space to accommodate 4,000 families. The apartments will have sea views as the facility is 600m away from the beach. These will be built after completing the depot.
Servicing and maintenance of CMRL’s present fleet of 52 trains is done in Koyambedu depot. This includes 10 new trains which were procured for the 9km extension line.
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