Chennai: In keeping with the deadline of two years to connect North Chennai with metro network, work for the same is in full swing. Â Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will be installing a critical power installation system, which is imperative to set up transit system operation. A tender has already been invited for installation of the system.
As per report by March 2020, the city’s Chennai metro network linking Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar stretch will be ready. This will be phase 1 extension covering 9km stretch.
CMRL floating the tender for the same hints that they want to speed up work. The metro officials want to finalise the firm that will be designing, manufacturing and installing overhead equipment (OHE) along the line of the track and integrated power supply needed to operation stations and trains.
The shortlisted firm will be expected to test and commission the critical elements of the project. Selected contractor will also have to train CMRL staff to offer technical and maintenance assistance.
The installation of these structures will be completed at the elevated maintenance depot that is being constructed at Wimco Nagar with 17 stabling lines. Â The selected contractor is expected to wrap up the work in 18 months.
According to preliminarily plan North Chennai will be connected to nine stations and three of them will be made underground.
In the phase-1 for the 45km stretch, Siemens AG of Germany and its Indian arms Siemens Ltd India installed the power supply and OHE. When it came to operating trains in the two corridors of phase-1, CMRL employs 25kV AC traction power supplied through the OHE, selected for safety and energy competency. For utilities at the stations, CMRL uses 33kV of power.
It was in 2016 that construction work for North Chennai began. It took two years to wrap up tunnelling work of 2km from Washermenpet to Korukkupet.
Work has been underway to install all systems essential for operating trains, starting with ballastless tracks.
Chennai Metro officials shared that once laying down tracks work is completed they will begin other tasks. These include signalling and power supply equipment will be installed. Concurrently, construction of the metro stations, the elevated corridor and the depot is in progress.
