Blue Line (Chennai Metro)

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Blue Line
A train on the Blue Line
Overview
StatusIn operation
Termini
Stations26
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemChennai Metro
Operator(s)Chennai Metro Rail Limited
Depot(s)Wimco Nagar
Rolling stockAlstom
History
Opened21 September 2016
Technical
Line length32.65 km (20.29 mi)
Number of tracks2
Character17 km (11 mi) Underground
15.65 km (9.72 mi) Elevated
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map

Legend
Chennai Suburban Railway
West South Line
Wimco Nagar Depot
 Wimco Nagar Depot
Wimco Nagar
Tiruvottriyur
Thiruvottriyur Theradi
Kaladipet
Toll Gate
New Washermanpet
Tondiarpet
Sir Theagaraya College
Washermanpet
Mannadi
High Court
Chennai Suburban Railway
South Line & South West Line
 M.G.R Central
Green Line
Green Line
Cooum River
 Government Estate
LIC
Thousand Lights
AG – DMS
Teynampet
Nandanam
Saidapet
Adyar River
 Little Mount
Guindy
Chennai Suburban Railway
South Line & South West Line
Kathipara Junction
Arignar Anna Alandur
Green Line
Green Line
Nanganallur Road
Meenambakkam
Chennai International Airport Chennai International Airport
Chennai Suburban Railway
South Line

The Blue Line is one of the two operational lines of Chennai Metro apart from the Green line. The line stretches from Chennai Airport to Wimco Nagar Depot, covering a distance of 32.65 km (20.29 mi). The line consists of 26 stations out of which 13 stations are underground and the rest are elevated or on ground level. In May 2018, operations on the blue line commenced between Saidapet and AG-DMS with the extended underground stretch from AG-DMS to Washermanpet of blue line commencing operations on 10 February 2019 completing the phase 1 of the metro.

Map

An airport-bound Metro halting at Alandur station

Planning and construction[edit]

Phase I[edit]

In 2006, a modern metro rail system was planned for Chennai modeled after the Delhi Metro.[1][2] Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was tasked with preparing a detailed project report on the implementation of metro system in Chennai.[2] Based on the report, the Government of Tamil Nadu approved the first phase of the project in November 2007.[3] The first phase was planned with two lines covering 45.1 km (28.0 mi) with 25 km (16 mi) being underground. The first corridor would connect Washermanpet with Chennai International Airport extending for 23.1 km (14.4 mi) with 14.3 km (8.9 mi) being underground.[2] In December 2007, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) was incorporated and the Government of India gave approval for the project in January 2009.[4][3]

The construction started in June 2009.[5] In August 2010, the contract for supplying rolling stock was awarded to Alstom.[6][7] Test and trial runs happened on the Green line in 2013 and early 2014.[8][9][10] After approvals from RDSO and the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety, commercial operations started between Alandur and Koyambedu stations on the green line in June 2015.[11][12][13] On 21 September 2016, commercial operations commenced between Airport and Little Mount on the blue line.[14] In May 2018, the blue line was extended between Saidapet and AG-DMS.[15] On 10 February 2019, the underground stretch from AG-DMS to Washermanpet of blue line was opened, completing the first phase of the metro.[16]

Line Name Terminals Stations Opened
Blue Line Chennai Airport Little Mount 6 21 September 2016
Little Mount AG–DMS 4 25 May 2018
AG–DMS Washermanpet 7 10 February 2019

Phase 1 Extension[edit]

A 9 kilometres (5.59 mi) northern extension of the blue line running from Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar consisting of nine stations.[17][18] Construction started in July 2016 with trial runs in December 2020.[19][20] The line opened for passenger traffic on 14 February 2021, increasing the length of the operational metro system to 54.1 km (33.62 mi).[21]

Line Name Terminals Stations Opened
Blue Line Washermanpet Wimco Nagar 8 14 February 2021
Wimco Nagar Wimco Nagar Depot 1 13 March 2022

Future plans[edit]

In 2021, CMRL proposed an extension to the first phase to connect the Airport with Kilambakkam.[22] Detailed project report for the project was submitted by CMRL in 2022.[23] The As of October 2023, the project is awaiting funds.[24]

Line Terminals Length Stations Status
Blue Line Chennai Airport Kilambakkam 15.3 km (9.5 mi) 12 DPR prepared

Infrastructure[edit]

Chennai metro coaches are manufactured by Alstom

The trains are operated on 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge double-tracked lines.[25] The average speed of operation is 85 kilometres per hour (53 mph) and maximum speed is 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph).[26] Alstom supplies the rolling stock for the trains operated on the line.[27] The trains are air-conditioned with electrically operated automatic sliding doors and have a first-class compartment with a dedicated section reserved for women.[28]

The trains operate on 25 kV AC traction catenary system.[29] The trains are connected to the grid via overhead electric cables and are equipped with regenerative braking with a capacity to recover 30–35% of the energy during braking.[30] The electricity is supplied by Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.[31]

Full-height enclosed platform screen doors installed in Chennai Metro's underground stations

Network[edit]

See also: List of Chennai metro stations

A total of 26 stations are operational along the blue line with 13 underground stations. In the underground sections, a walkway runs along the length with cross passages every 250 metres (820 ft 3 in) for the maintenance and emergency evacuation.[32] The underground stations have an average width of 200 metres (656 ft 2 in) and average depth of 20 feet (6.1 m) from the ground level.[33] The length of the stations in Phase 1 extension is 180 metres (590 ft 7 in).[34][35] The elevated stations have three levels with the concourse level at a minimum height of 5.5 metres (18 ft 1 in) above the ground level and platform level above the concourse while the underground stations have two levels with platform screen doors.[36] The stations are air-conditioned and are equipped to be disabled and elderly friendly, with automatic fare collection system, announcement system, electronic display boards, escalators and lifts.[37] Paid parking facilities are available for two wheelers in most stations and four wheelers in select stations.[38]

The line connects the northeast and the southwest ends of the city. The stations include:

Blue Line
S.No Station name[21][39] Connections Station layout Platform type Opened
English Tamil
1 Wimco Nagar Depot விம்கோ நகர் பணிமனை Elevated Side 13 March 2022[40]
2 Wimco Nagar விம்கோ நகர் Mainline rail interchange North Line, Chennai Suburban (Wimco Nagar) 14 February 2021
3 Tiruvottriyur திருவொற்றியூர்
4 Tiruvottriyur Theradi திருவொற்றியூர் தேரடி 13 March 2022[41]
5 Kaladipet காலடிப்பேட்டை 14 February 2021
6 Tollgate சுங்கச்சாவடி
7 New Washermanpet புது வண்ணரப்பேட்டை
8 Tondiarpet தண்டையார்பேட்டை Underground Island
9 Sir Theagaraya College தியாகராயா கல்லூரி
10 Washermanpet வண்ணாரப்பேட்டை Mainline rail interchange North Line, Chennai Suburban (Washermanpet) 10 February 2019
11 Mannadi மண்ணடி
12 High Court உயர் நீதிமன்றம் Bus interchange Broadway bus terminus
13 Central சென்ட்ரல்   Green Line
Mainline rail interchange Chennai Central
Mainline rail interchange South Line, Chennai Suburban (Park)
Mainline rail interchange West Line, Chennai Suburban (Moore Market)
Mainline rail interchange Chennai MRTS (Park Town)
14 Government Estate அரசினர் தோட்டம்
15 LIC எல்.ஐ.சி
16 Thousand Lights ஆயிரம் விளக்கு   Purple Line[§]
17 AG – DMS ஏ.ஜி.–டி.எம்.எஸ். 25 May 2018
18 Teynampet தேனாம்பேட்டை
19 Nandanam நந்தனம்   Orange Line[§]
20 Saidapet சைதாப்பேட்டை
21 Little Mount சின்னமலை Elevated Side 21 September 2016
22 Guindy கிண்டி Mainline rail interchange South Line, Chennai Suburban (Guindy)
23 Alandur ஆலந்தூர்   Green Line
  Red Line[§]
24 Nanganallur Road நங்கநல்லூர் சாலை
25 Meenambakkam மீனம்பாக்கம் Mainline rail interchange South Line, Chennai Suburban (Meenambakkam)
26 Chennai Airport சென்னை விமான நிலையம் Airport interchange Chennai International Airport
Mainline rail interchange South Line, Chennai Suburban (Tirusulam)

§ under construction

Operations[edit]

As of 2022, the metro operates trains from 5 AM to 11 PM with an average frequency of one train every 6 minutes in peak hours and every 12 minutes in lean hours in the blue line.[42][43] The main operational control center (OCC) is located in Koyambedu where the movement of trains and real-time CCTV footage obtained is monitored.[44] In 2022, an elevated depot at Wimco Nagar covering an area of 3.5 ha (8.6 acres) commenced operations with facilities for inspection, emergency repair and a washing plant.[45][46] The minimum fare is ₹10 and the maximum fare is ₹50.[47][48] There are six types of tickets issued by CMRL for travel in Chennai Metro.[49]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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