Chennai is on the cusp of a major transportation revolution with the construction of a 3.75km double-decker elevated metrorail line between Alwarthirunagar and Alapakkam. This ambitious project, towering at 24 meters – equivalent to an eight-story building – will provide residents of Madhavaram with seamless connectivity to the heart of the city within two years. The double-decker line, boasting four stations, will serve as an interchange point, effectively linking corridors 4 and 5 in phase-2 of the metro expansion.
The construction process presents unique challenges due to the narrow road where cranes are unusable. To overcome this obstacle, engineers are employing launching girders and feeding gantries, specially designed equipment that sits atop the pillars and hoists viaducts or ‘U’ shaped precast girders into place. This innovative approach eliminates disruptions to vehicular traffic below.
Metrorail officials confirm that the double-decker line is an integral part of the Powerhouse to Porur line on corridor-3, projected to be operational by mid-2026. The launching girder and gantry, costing approximately 15 crore, were custom-fabricated in China specifically for constructing elevated lines in restricted spaces. Their deployment on this challenging double-decker stretch, where both the line and stations are built on a single row of pillars, is a testament to engineering ingenuity. All four stations will share a common concourse (ticketing level) with distinct platforms.
The construction of the two-deck elevated line is a meticulous and complex process, involving the assembly of numerous prestressed concrete segments after curing concrete pillars to form the concourse and two track levels. The double-decker line will serve four key stations: Alwarthirunagar, Valasaravakkam, Karambakkam, and Alapakkam. Upon completion, commuters from Madhavaram and southern suburban areas, including Alandur, Madipakkam, and Medavakkam, can effortlessly access the vibrant shopping hub in T Nagar, Marina Beach, and the IT corridor on OMR by conveniently switching platforms at any of the double-decker stations.
H Chandran, a resident of Madhavaram, expresses his enthusiasm, stating, “There are not many MTC buses for us to get to the city. Travelling in a cab or auto costs a lot as we have to travel at least 15 to 20km to get to places such as T Nagar. We can travel in metro trains in comfort, at a comparatively lower cost and in less time.” This sentiment echoes the widespread anticipation for the double-decker line to enhance connectivity and improve the lives of Chennai’s residents.
