The Times of India            28.05.2013

Corporation to develop facilities around metro stations

CHENNAI: As metro rail plans to open the Koyambedu-St Thomas Mount elevated line by mid-2014, Corporation of Chennai is getting ready too — to provide access to the stations on the route.

Corporation officials said they had identified roads for laying new footpaths, bus shelters, street lights, storm water drains, sign boards and street lights within a 500-metre radius of each station. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) had recently asked the civic body to complete works before the line was thrown open to the public.

A senior corporation official said: "We recently took up the relaying of 400 roads in various areas, covering a few metro rail stations. Those left out have been identified and we will float tenders for the relaying work on these roads in a couple of weeks and try to complete the work before the line is opened".

Road experts say the proposed inter-modal connectivity among metro rail, suburban railway, MRTS and Metropolitan Transport Corporation services will help residents live in the heart of the city and commute to the suburbs for work or vice versa. "Inter-modal connectivity is vital as people will use the rail system only if they find it easy to access. Bus shelters are also necessary if MTC runs minibuses on these stretches," said a Roshan Toshniwal of Transparent Chennai.

He was happy the civic body was doing something to improve inter-modal connectivity. "Unfortunately most MRTS railway stations are vacant as they are disconnected from other modes. There are no good roads, footpaths or street lights in many stations. How can we expect commuters to use them," he asked.

Some corporation officials said proper amenities would be provided in the vicinity of the proposed metro stations. "Commuters will be able to walk to and from stations along well laid footpaths after the work is complete. The street lights will provide a safe environment for them, especially at night," one official said.

Others said they were in the process of identifying parking spaces for the metro stations. "As of now, metro rail has provided parking space only in few metro stations along the route and this may not be enough. So we are studying the feasibility of providing parking space outside some of these stations," said a corporation official.

Many residents living close to areas where the metro stations are to come up are excited about the corporation's plans. "The proposed metro rail line runs through arterial roads, but commuters who want to reach the station will always prefer interior roads. If there are no storm water drains, then it will be flooded and cause inconvenience to the commuters especially during rain" said Durai Raj, a resident of Vadapalani.