Metro line from Nehru Park to Central likely by mid-April.

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited is likely to open its fourth stretch - from Nehru Park to Chennai Central - on April 14, sources said. The final inspection by Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) may take place by March 25.

Sources said the inauguration will be subject to availability of authorities from the State government.

According to CMRL officials, the work is nearly complete on this stretch and various tests have to be carried out before the inspection by CMRS.

“The signalling and electrification work has started and will be completed before the inspection. The finishing work on stations is also on. We recently had a trial run on this stretch and this will continue till the operations begin,” an official said.

2.7 km, 3 stations

This stretch comprises a distance of 2.7 km covering three stations -Nehru Park, Egmore and Chennai Central. Services up to Nehru Park have been operational for several months now.

The extension of this stretch will throw open a direct link between Central and Chennai airport.

CMRL has increased the frequency of services from Shenoy Nagar to Alandur with a train available every seven minutes during peak hours. But when Chennai Central is opened, there will be a train every five minutes from Chennai Central to Alandur. For non-peak hours, for every 20 minutes, there will be a train.

THE HINDU