Comprehensive mobility plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area to be ready this month
The CUMTA executive committee led by Chief Secretary N.Muruganandam examined all the proposals for a comprehensive mobility plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area on Monday and cleared for submission to CUMTA.
CUMTA, headed by Chief Minister M.K.Stalin, is expected to meet by the end of July for release of the comprehensive mobility plan. Following the release of the comprehensive mobility plan, an App for 'journey planner-cum-integrated ticketing' is likely to be launched by the second week of August for commuters in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpet, Tiruvallur and Ranipet.
The journey planner cum integrated ticketing system will include MTC, metrorail, auto and cab for Chennai Metropolitan Area in the first phase. As the Railway Board is expected to approve the integration of Railways with the journey planner cum integrated ticketing system later, suburban train commuters will be integrated with the App by October. Commuters will make a single payment to reach any destination in the metropolitan area, as the App will provide information about the cheapest and the fastest modes of transport to reach any destination. Once the commuter makes a decision, choosing any one of the options provided by the system, she/he will make a single payment and a QR code will be generated for the transit.
One of the proposals include extension of Metrorail from Poonamallee to Kuthambakkam bus terminus in this phase. Priority to Airport metro and linking of Kalaignar Convention Centre in Muttukadu on ECR with Siruseri Metro station has also been proposed.
The plan involves several key components, including the development of missing links, new links, and ring-radial roads. Road widening and upgradation projects are also included, alongside the construction of Rail Over Bridges (ROB) and Rail Under Bridges (RUB). Grade separations, such as flyovers and underpasses, and improvements to road safety and junctions are part of the strategy.
The plan's targets for 2048 include achieving a 45% reduction in transportation sector green house gases emissions, and a 75% reduction in road crashes, including fatal and severe injuries. The plan also aims for 60% of the critical road network to be protected from flood impacts. For the GCC area, the plan proposes the upgradation and construction of Link Road along the Buckingham Canal, spanning 19 km. The Madhavaram Sholavaram elevated corridor, which is along an existing road, has also been proposed. New road projects in the GCC area include the extension of the NH bypass to the Inner Ring Road from Puzhal, and two U-shaped flyovers near Indira Nagar MRTS and Tidel Park Junction at OMR. These new roads proposed in the GCC area cover 7.6 km.
In the expanded CMA, the plan includes new town loop roads such as Arakkonam (16 km), Chengalpattu (24 km), Kanchipuram (16.5 km), Mahabalipuram (15.5 km), Parandur (10 km), Tirutani (4 km), and Thiruvallur (11 km). The new town loop roads cover a length of 97 km.
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