Mass Rapid Transit System (Chennai)
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- For the proposed metro, see Chennai Metro
| MRTS | |
| Locale | Chennai |
|---|---|
| Transit type | rapid transit |
| Began operation | 1997 |
| System length | 27 km (17 mi) |
| No. of lines | 1 |
| No. of stations | 17 |
MRTS is an initialism for Mass Rapid Transit System usually referring to a particular system of suburban rail network in Chennai with tracks running on a raised platform.
Chennai, India's fourth-largest urban agglomeration, has a well-established Suburban Railway Network, which dates back to 1931, when services began on the metre-gauge line from Beach to Tambaram. Two more suburban services were begun in 1985 — Chennai Central to Arakkonam and Chennai Central to Gummidipoondi, both of which were broad-gauge services. See List of Chennai MRTS stations for a list of MRTS stations in Chennai.
Contents |
[edit] General information
Each MRTS Station is designed by a different architect and is built to accommodate a full length EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) rake, possibly consisting of 9 cars. But currently, only 6-car rakes are run on the Line, as the traffic on the MRTS Line is considerably less than the 3 Suburban Lines, where 9-car rakes run daily. Though the headway is expected once the patronage increases steadily. The MRTS runs from Beach to Velachery in about 40 minutes (compared to 2 hours in peak hours for the same distance). The first train from Beach starts at 6.05 am and the last starts at 9:35 pm. In reverse the first train from Velachery starts at 6.50 am and runs till 9.15 pm. The trains run on the MRTS are 'normal' EMUs, and do not have automatic doors like a Metro Train. This is because the MRTS is considered to be an elevated extension of the Suburban Network and not a Metro System, as such. However, the MRTS can be considered a Metro, since it is elevated for the majority of its length, and its services are exclusive, i.e. no other trains run on the MRTS Line.
[edit] Phase Information
The project involves three phases, of which Phase I and Phase II are completed. Phase II extension and Phase III are in different stages of execution.
| Phase | Length (elevated) in km | Route | Stations | Cost (Initial Estimate) in crore rupees | Sanction | Opening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | 8.55 (5.80) | Chennai Beach - Thirumayilai | 8 | 260 (53.46) | 1984 | 1997 |
| Phase II | 11.16 (7.84) | Thirumayilai - Velachery | 9 | 665 (733.4) | 1998 | 19th Nov. 2007 |
| Phase II Ext | 5 (5) | Velachery - St. Thomas Mount | 3 | (417) | 2007 | Exp. 2009-10 |
| Phase III | 16.76 (~10.76) | St. Thomas Mount- Padi/Villivakkam | 10 | N/A | - | - |
source:CMDA
[edit] Phase One
.jpg/200px-Tirumailai_MRTS_station_Chennai_(Madras).jpg)
In the 1980s, the Government began planning for a new railway line inside the city. The Suburban Lines offered no connectivity to Central and South Madras (as Chennai was known then). Planning began in 1985 and construction was started in 1991 . The first phase was much delayed and finally opened in 1997. The section of the line encompassing the first three Stations — Beach, Fort and Park Town, is at grade; after Park Town it begins climbing. All the Stations after Park Town — Chintadripet, Chepauk, Tiruvallikeni, Lighthouse and Thirumaylai are elevated. The Line from Park Town to Thirumaylai follows the course of the Buckingham Canal, which runs parallel to the Coromandel Coast.
[edit] Phase Two
The second phase of the MRTS was meant to connect Thirumaylai to Velachery, a southern suburb. Till Perungudi station all the stations are elevated. One of the main stations in this stretch is Thiruvanmiyur Station, which is just across from Tidel Park. The elevated track between Thiruvanmiyur and Velachery was opened to public by the Tamilnadu Chief Minister Mr. M Karunanidhi on November 19, 2007.
With this Velachery and Beach stations will be connected with 58 trips every day.
[edit] Phase Two Extension
Tenders for the Phase II extn from Velachery to St. Thomas Mount, have also been called for, and the project is likely to take-off shortly. A station on the Beach - Tambaram Line next to the Meenambakkam Airport, effectively creating a changeover point between the two lines. This also creates a convenient connection between the eastern coast, the IT corridor and areas between Chennai Central and Anna International Airport.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
work on MRTS Phase II extension (popularly known as Phase-III as well as Inner Ring Road from Velachery to St. Thomas Mount has already started. the details given below:-
Details collected on 24.04.2008 from the exhibited drawing in IRR/MRTS ways. IRR 30 Metres IRR with Station 54.5 (30 + 12.25 + 12.25M) IRR + Station + Circulation Area + Service Road 80.0 Metres (30 + 12.25 + 12.25 + 7.5 + 7.5M + circulation area (size not mentioned) = 80.0 M = 266 ft. approx. Station size 11.5 M (width) x 82.575 M (Length) Service Road 750 (11.5 + 0.750 = 12.250) Service Road 7.5 M wide Block A& B = 54.5M Gradient 1 in 100 rise Of Velachery ROB @ @ KM 19.541 (Rlys.)& @ km 4.753 Highways C/L (Center Line) of Puzhuthivakkam Station @ KM 21.235 (Rlys)@ KM 3.059 Highways. Station Length 280 metres Rail Level 106.550 Highway Level 93.543 Highway chainage 2919 metres Rly. Chainage in ROB 19.541 Ramp starts 19.749 Ramp ends 21.081 Station limit 21.095 (start) Station Limit 21.375 (ends)
Reaches I, II, & III 19.749 23.310 Reach I - 19.749 – 21.050 Reach II – 21.050 – 22.050 Reach III – 22.050 – 23.310 Station Buildings Puzhuthivakkam @ 21.235 Adambakkam @ 22.266 St. Thomas Mount 23.961 Total estimated cost 495.7 crores Ramp Starts @ 19.749 (Rly) 4544 (IRR) ends @ 21.081 (Rly) 3213 (IRR)
Station Starts @ 21.095 (Rly) 3199 (IRR) Station ends @ 21.375 (Rly) 2919(IRR) Station C/L (centre line) @ 21.235 (Rly) @ 3.059 (Highways)
Additional informations on MRTS Phase II extension
MRTS Phase II estn. (RCC Pillar work) is being executed by MYTAS Infra (SATYAM Group of Company) and IRR work is being executed by a Company popularly known as P&C.
Advantage to MRTS (progress of work) is there are IRR in both ways (can be used as service Road, that way MRTS is blessed.
Reach I, II, & III is expected to be completed by March 2009. Reach IV work will be completed within 1 year from the date of Land acquisition.
90% of Land Acquisition work has been completed for MRTS and IRR.
[edit] Phase Three and Beyond
The planned route for the MRTS will see it turn North after St Thomas Mount and touch the Suburban Line to Arakkonam at Villivakkam before continuing further North East and eventually going down to Grade, i.e. Surface Level again and merging with the Suburban Line to Gummidipoondi at Tondiarpet. The Project is already behind schedule and after the government approved plans for the Chennai Metro, one of whose lines has the same alignment, the MRTS project may never progress beyond St Thomas Mount.
 Indira Nagar |
 Thiruvanmiyur |
 Taramani I |
 Velachery |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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