Metro rail trial run in underground stretch after polls
C Shivakumar
Chennai:
The temperature was hovering around 35 degrees Celsius but it did not deter men from working 70 feet below the Shenoy Nagar Park to complete the Metro station.
“Nearly, 85 per cent of the work in the Shenoy Nagar Metro Station is complete and these men work in shifts for 24 hours,” says a Chennai Metro Rail official as workers were seen giving finishing touches to the works.
Currently, the station, which has four exits, has to undergo architecture, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work.
As one enters the concourse of the station which is eight metres below the street level, the official chips in stating that Shenoy Nagar would be the only station which will have access to sunlight at the concourse level which is eight metres below the street level.
This is because the station is built on the park. “It is off the road station,” quips the official.
Interestingly, the erstwhile park lacks any greenery but nature lovers can heave a sigh of relief as Chennai Metro plans to restore the park once the station is completed.
The station which is spread over 350 metres is the second largest station after Chennai Central Metro station.
The station has two levels. A concourse level from where the commuter has to take the ticket and the platform level, which is 24 metres below the street level to catch the train.
Interestingly, Chennai Metro may be the only one to have platform screen doors in the underground stations unlike Delhi Metro. “Delhi Metro is now planning to have such doors. The doors would block the entry into railway tracks and is for safety of passengers. It is a toughened glass and one can view the tracks,” says the official.
The underground station has tunnel ventilation system and air condition system. The ventilation system has safety features. In case of incidents like fire, it sucks in the smoke and releases it outside.
The underground station is also the only one to have cross over facility for trains. “The cross over facility is where you can park an additional train which can be used during the peak hour,” says the official.
Similarly, walking down the tracks for 250 metres one would come across a passage linking the two tunnels. “It is a passageway. It is built as emergency exit for passengers in case of emergency,” reveals the official.
Every station has a fire escape staircase and an access for firemen. The firemen can enter through the ancillary building, which is being built in every station, and reach the platform.
Unlike the December floods, Chennai Metro has worked out a mechanism where rain water can’t enter the platform of the stations. “It will be sealed at the concourse level. Even if water enters the platform level, there is mechanism to drain it out,” says the official.
There is also a emergency pathway in the tunnel along the tracks to evacuate commuters in case of emergency. The tunnels have a communication cable, a fire hydrant and rigid overhead cable which supplies power. Currently, the power cable has been laid from Thirumangalam to Anna Nagar East and work is on to finish laying the communication cable from Anna Nagar East to Shenoy Nagar, which is a distance of 1km.
Once it is done, it is most likely that Chennai Metro will have its first trial run from Koyambedu to Shenoy Nagar. This is likely after the elections.
Box:
1. Shenoy Nagar is one of the largest underground station after Chennai Central.
2. The underground stretch will have platform screen doors for safety of passengers
3. Trial Run of Chennai Metro from Koyambedu to Shenoy Nagar is likely after elections
4. The station has tunnel ventilation system which can suck in the smoke during any fire accident.
5. Once the station is completed, Chennai Metro will restore Shenoy Nagar Park
6. Shenoy Nagar station will be only underground station to have access to natural lighting
7. It is the only station in the underground stretch to have cross over facility to keep additional train on standby during the peak hour
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