Chennai Metro: RVNL Emerges As Lowest Bidder For Sholinganallur Lake-SIPCOT Section Of Metro Line-3

Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) has won the contract to build the 10.13 km Sholinganallur Lake-SIPCOT 2 section of Chennai Metro Line-3.

The expansion of Metro Phase II spans around 118.9 km and consists of three corridors, namely Corridor-3 — From Madhavaram to SIPCOT (45.8 km), Corridor-4 — From Lighthouse to Poonamalle Bypass (26.1 km), Corridor-5 — From Madhavaram at Sholinganallur (47 km). 

The estimated cost of the project is‌‌ Rs 63,246 crore.  

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) bids include the construction of a 10-kilometre-long elevated viaduct, nine elevated metro stations at Sholinganallur Lake, Ponniamman Temple, Sathyabama University, Semmancheri, Gandhi Nagar, Navallur, Siruseri, SIPCOT 1 and SIPCOT 2, and a stabling viaduct at SIPCOT.

The elevated stretch, with 10 stations proposed, along the IT corridor of Chennai is expected to be ready in three years, reports The Hindu.

CMRL solicited initial bids for this package in January 2021, with a 36-month timeframe. The tender received three proposals in July 2021, but it was cancelled in February 2022 due to a significant redesign that disconnected the metro's viaduct from the proposed IT expressway.

The Sholinganallur-SIPCOT stretch is part of corridor-3 and is dotted with several IT companies and educational institutions. It will especially help thousands of working professionals and students beat traffic and travel back and forth to various areas.

Larsen and Toubro was awarded the contract for the Nehru Nagar-Sholinganallur stretch of the Old Mahabalipuram Road a few months ago.