North Chennai metro line may open in January – Times of India

CHENNAI: Chennai Metro Rail’s 9km line that will link a part of North Chennai with the heart of the city is set for a January 2021 opening with stations and corridors getting finishing touches. The line from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar has two underground and six elevated stations.
“Elevated section is almost ready. Electrification and signalling may take some time,” a CMRL official said. The official said a diesel locomotive will be operated on the line before the end of December to check the alignment, following which a metro train will be operated on both manual and automatic mode.
“Before that a lot of testing that needs to be done. Once the trial run is done, we will invite safety inspectors. We are trying for a January- end opening,” a metro rail official said.
Commuters from Wimco Nagar or Thiruvottiyur could reach Airport via Anna Salai on a single ride in less than 90minutes or shift corridors at Central Metro to reach CMBT or Egmore railway station via Poonamallee High Road. An official said they expect the daily patronage to go up by 30% when the line gets commissioned.
Officials said the elevated depot at Wimco Nagar under construction on a 48,000sqm area, which will accommodate 11 stabling units, will be ready by the first quarter of 2021. The depot will handle daily maintenance and minor repair works for trains operated on a 32km corridor from Wimco Nagar to airport. The depot is also being built for future development where a four-level parking area and a nearly 20-storey building could be built below and over the depot, which will be at 12m height.