The Tamil Nadu government is planning to handover the Chennai Beach - Velachery suburban train line to the Chennai Metro Rail for operation as an elevated railway. As part of the plan, the Chennai Metro Rail is conducting a study, with the help of IIT Madras, to upgrade the existing stations...
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along this line to match metro rail standards. Initially, IIT Madras will assess the two stations - Thiruvallikeni and Thirumayilai - to determine the cost of development and the feasibility of implementing automated fare collection, parking, and CCTV systems. This study is expected to be completed within a month, followed by a detailed project report outlining passenger traffic, integration with the second phase, required number of coaches, and passenger facilities. Once the detailed project report is finalized, the Chennai Metro Rail plans to secure funding for the upgrade project. The Chennai Metro Rail will then guide an agency on the optimal design of each station, aiming to bring the entire line up to metro standards. The Southern Railway will continue operating the train services until the upgrade is completed, which is expected to take at least a year.