The Airport - Kilambakkam leg of the Chennai Metro may soon start with land purchase and utility relocation

Since the entire route is intended to be an overhead line, construction is anticipated to move along quite quickly after Chennai Metro Rail wrote to the State government requesting 800 crore to start the process.

The Airport - Kilambakkam project of Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) may soon begin with the land acquisition work and utility relocation.

The CMRL has written to the State administration requesting money to start acquiring property and relocating electric wires. "We have asked the State government Rs 800 crore to begin the process. We'll start looking for funds for the project soon, a CMRL representative stated.

Commuters from Tambaram, Chitlapakkam, Vandalur, and other surrounding towns in the south are anticipating this project, which is expected to cost around Rs. 4,080 crore. Commuter’s claim that the length would provide them with simple access to several destinations in Anna Salai, north Chennai, and Anna Nagar that are now connected to the Metro Rail.

This project, which spans 15.3 km and has stations in Pallavaram, Kothandam Nagar, Chromepet, Mahalakshmi Colony, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Tambaram, Irumbuliyur, Peerkankaranai, Perungalathur, Vandalur, Arignar Anna Zoo, and Kilambakkam Bus Terminus, begins at the Chennai airport and ascends to Kilambakkam.

According to sources, originally four hectares of land would be needed for the relocation of utilities. Because this project is being built along the G.S.T. Road and has been designed as an elevated railway, work may move along rather quickly. "However, obtaining funding for the project and swift approvals are also challenges. It could be significantly quicker and simpler when we seek for money from banks for this project as we will soon receive the funds for land acquisition and the procedure will also start," another official added.

The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) has given this project its in-principle clearance. It would be crucial to have adequate public transportation access to the terminal once the Kilambakkam Bus terminal is opened to the public and activities progressively shift to this facility, according to the sources.