Railway track maintainers painting on the railway track for Velachery – St Thomas Mount expansion of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS)
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B
Janak Kumar Garg, Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS), New Delhi, will conduct the statutory inspection of the newly constructed Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) section between Velachery and St. Thomas Mount on Thursday.
In addition, a high-speed trial run will be undertaken using an AC-EMU (9-Car) rake on both up and down lines between Velachery and St. Thomas Mount stations. The trial will assess track geometry, riding quality, signalling performance, overhead equipment and compliance with prescribed safety standards. Advanced Track Recording Systems will be deployed during the speed trial to verify track parameters and ensure adherence to safety and quality norms, says a release from Southern Railway.
The inspection constitutes the final statutory requirement prior to commissioning of this important extension of the MRTS network. The Velachery – St. Thomas Mount section is expected to significantly enhance suburban rail connectivity in Chennai and strengthen multi-modal integration in the southern part of the city.
A key feature of this extension is the development of St. Thomas Mount as a major multi-modal transport hub. The station provides seamless interchange between MRTS, Chennai Metro Rail and the existing suburban railway network, thereby enabling efficient transfer of passengers across different corridors. This integration is expected to reduce travel time, ease road congestion and improve last-mile connectivity for commuters.
The extension also includes the newly constructed stations at Puzhuthivakkam and Adambakkam, which will serve densely populated residential and commercial areas. These stations are designed with modern passenger amenities, improved accessibility features and enhanced safety infrastructure, thereby improving commuter convenience and expanding rail-based mobility options in these localities, says the release.
Published on March 4, 2026