Track work for Metro Rail in north Chennai begins.

Work on the Chennai Metro Rail line in north Chennai is finally seeing some progress with track laying being initiated for the underground stretch at Washermanpet.

The laying of tracks - from Washermanpet Metro Rail station to AG-DMS Metro Rail station, a distance of about 13 km - started a week ago, sources said.

The tunnelling work from Washermanpet to Chennai Central is nearly complete but work is still in progress from Chennai Central to AG-DMS. According to CMRL officials, the tunnelling to Chennai Central was quite challenging due to the unpredictable soil conditions and density of population in the localities.

“It will take at least six months to lay the track from Washermanpet to Chennai Central and perhaps, another six months to reach AG-DMS. Soon, the work on signalling and electrification will also start. The priority will be to complete the work from Washermanpet to Chennai Central. Meanwhile, the tunnelling work in the remaining part of Anna Salai will be over and the track work can begin there too,” an official said.

Larsen and Tourbro was given the contract to lay tracks for the elevated corridors from Koyambedu to St. Thomas Mount and Little Mount to Chennai airport, and the underground corridor from Thirumangalam to Egmore.

But for the stretch between Washermanpet and AG-DMS, Kalindee Rail Nirman Engineers Limited will carry out the laying of tracks.

THE HINDU