Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System commonly referred to as Chennai MRTS is a metropolitan Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in Chennai, India. It is operated by Southern Railway of the state-owned Indian Railways. Opened in 1995, it was the first elevated railway line in India. The railway line runs from Chennai beach to Velachery, covering a distance of 19.34 km (12.02 mi) with 18 stations and is integrated with the wider Chennai suburban railway network.
While the suburban railway started has been operational since 1931, the Planning Commission of Government of India set up a team to study the adequacy and feasibility of different modes of transport and recommend development in major cities including Madras in 1965. In July 1971, eight important transport corridors including the 39 km (24 mi) north–southeastern rail corridor along the Buckingham Canal were identified for development of rail corridors. The north–southeastern rail corridor was approved by Government of India in 1983–84 with the project to be implemented in four phases. The project was taken up for implementation by the Ministry of Railways with construction beginning in 1991. The first phase from Chennai beach to Chepauk was completed in 1995 with further extension to Thirumyilai completed in 1997. Part of second phase from Thirumayilai to Thiruvanmiyur was completed in 2004 with the extension to Velachery in 2007. As of January 2024 [update] , a planned extension to St. Thomas Mount is under construction.
The Chennai MRTS line is largely elevated with at-grade sections at its terminals. The line runs at grade initially till Park Town, parallel to the suburban railway network and becomes elevated thereon, roughly following the course of the Buckingham Canal, running parallel to the Coromandel Coast till Thiruvanmiyur before deviating west towards Velachery. It uses the same broad gauge (5 ft 6in) as the suburban system, thus allowing the movements of trains between the existing suburban lines and the MRTS. The elevated tracks are built at an average height of about 14 metres (46 ft) from the ground. The Chennai MRTS uses 9-car electrical multiple unit (EMU) train sets. The trains use 25 kV overhead catenary for traction. The coaches are manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. The coaches are not air-conditioned and are equipped with first-class and second-class passenger seating.
As of 2015, the system had a ridership of 1 lakh (0.1 million) commuters per day. With the implementation of the Chennai Metro Rail starting in 2015 and planned expansion of the same, further expansion of the MRTS system was put on hold in 2017, with the plans for the MRTS system to be taken over by Chennai Metro Rail Limited. In 2022, the Southern Railway of Indian Railways gave an in-principle approval for the take-over under which the coaches, stations and other infrastructure will be upgraded on par with the Chennai Metro.
The Chennai Suburban Railway started operating in 1931 on an electrified line from Chennai Beach to Tambaram and two more lines were added connecting Chennai Central with Gummidipoondi in 1985 and Arakkonam later. [2] [3] In 1965, the Planning Commission set up a team to study to assess the adequacy and limitation of existing transport facilities, to determine the feasibility of different modes of transport and recommend programmes for development of transport facilities in major metropolitan cities including Madras. [4] [5]
To supplement the existing transport infrastructure in Chennai, a number of surveys were conducted such as the Madras Area Transportation Study (1968), Integrated Transport Plan (1977) and Madras Route Rationalisation Study (1986). [6] The Madras Area Transportation Study Unit (MATSU) identified eight important transport corridors including the north–southeastern rail corridor connecting between Kasturba Nagar and Manali Road. The study suggested the implementation of a rail based Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) on the southern section of the line along the Buckingham Canal connecting to the existent suburban system. [7] The MRTS system was envisaged as a 59.38 km (36.90 mi) loop line connecting Chennai beach and Tiruvottiyur. [8]
Since the planned railway line would pass through congested parts of the city, an elevated rail system was selected, as it would avoid land-acquisition problems. [9] The project was intended to be implemented in four phases: Chennai beach to Thirumayilai, Tirumailai to St. Thomas Mount, St. Thomas Mount to Villivakkam and Villivakkam to Ennore. [10]
The project was sanctioned for implementation by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India in 1983–84. [7] [5] After multiple delays, construction began in 1991 and part of first phase from Chennai beach to Chepauk was completed in 1995. [7] [11] It became operational on 16 November 1995 and was the first operational elevated railway line in India. [7] [2] The line was extended to Thirumayilai in 1997. [7] [12] [13] The cost of construction of the first phase between Chennai Beach and Thirumyilai was estimated to be ₹280 crore (US$35 million) which was fully financed by the Government of India. [7] The first phase was projected to cater to 6 lakh passengers per day but the actual patronage turned out to be lesser than the projected estimates. [10] [14]
RITES conducted further studies in 1987 and 1994 on the effectiveness of the existing public transport system in catering to the growing population. Based on the studies, further expansion of the MRTS line was proposed. [5] In 1998, the Railway Board accorded sanction of executing Phase II of the project from Thirumayilai to Velachery. [5] Part of the phase II railway line from Thirumaylai to Thiruvanmiyur was opened on 27 June 2004. [15] [16] On 19 November 2007, the network was further extended from Thiruvanmiyur to Velachery. [17] [18] While Phase I was fully funded by the Government of India and the state government gave the required land, for Phase II, the state government contributed two-thirds of the total project cost of ₹691.04 crore (US$87 million). [5] [7] [19]
The progress of different phases of the project is summarized below: [20]
Phase | Length | Route | Stations | Opening Date | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phase I-A | 5.00 km (3.11 mi) | Chennai Beach – Chepauk | 5 | 16 November 1995 | Operational |
Phase I-B | 3.66 km (2.27 mi) | Chepauk – Thirumayilai | 4 | 19 October 1997 | Operational |
Phase II-A | 5.99 km (3.72 mi) | Thirumayilai – Thiruvanmiyur | 6 | 26 January 2004 | Operational |
Phase II-B | 4.69 km (2.91 mi) | Thiruvanmiyur – Velachery | 3 | 19 November 2007 | Operational |
Phase II-B Extension [21] | 5 km (3.1 mi) | Velachery – St. Thomas Mount | 3 | TBD | Under construction |
The extended second phase of the project, connecting Velachery with St. Thomas Mount was not completed as planned due to alignment and land acquisition issues. [22] [23] According to the annual Railway Budget in 2012, it was expected that this line would be commission in 2013. [24] In October 2012, land acquisition was resumed by CMDA after the Madras High Court vacated a stay on the same. [25] There were further delays in land acquisition with land for about 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) of the stretch and Puzuthivakkam station yet to be acquired in April 2013. [26] Further cases were filed by land owners demanding higher compensation, based on the Land Acquisition Act 2013 in 2014. [27] In March 2016, Southern Railway stated that the final phase of the MRTS will take at least 18 more months from the date of receiving land from the state government which is yet to be handed over to the Railways. [28] In 2018, further discussion on land acquisition between the residents and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) failed. [29] While the Madras High Court directed the CMDA to pay higher compensation in 2019, the CMDA filed a review in the Indian Supreme Court against the same. [30] The Supreme Court ordered that fair compensation be paid to the land owners and directed the CMDA to complete the land acquisition by 8 January 2021. [31] Despite multiple plans to make the final stretch operational, As of January 2024 [update] , the line is still under construction. [32] [33] [34] On 18 January 2024, a concrete girder which was being placed collapsed in the under construction section of the railway line, which is expected to delay the opening further. [35] [34]
The third and fourth phases of the MRTS were initially planned to connect St. Thomas Mount with Villivakkam and Villivakkam with Ennore, respectively. [10] However, with the implementation of the Chennai Metro Rail, the plan for developing these two phases have been dropped, since these overlap with the alignment of the Chennai Metro Rail. [20] With the implementation of the Chennai Metro Rail starting in 2015 and planned expansion of the same, the MRTS system was proposed to be merged and taken over by Chennai Metro Rail Limited in 2017. [36] In July 2018, PwC said that the merger would be expensive costing around ₹3,000 crore (US$380 million) to change the train-sets and establish other facilities post the merger. [37] On 11 May 2022, Southern Railway of the Indian Railways granted in-principle approval for the Chennai Metro to takeover the MRTS. [38]
The MRTS line is largely elevated, with at-grade sections at its terminals. From Beach to Chennai Park Town station, the line runs at grade, parallel to the suburban railway network. [20] [7] [12] Following Chennai Park Town station, the line's first phase becomes elevated and follows the course of the Buckingham Canal, which runs parallel to the Coromandel Coast. [7] [12] [39] The line remains elevated for the alignment of the second phase up to Perungudi, after which it returns to an at-grade section at Velachery. The 19 km (12 mi) line from Chennai Beach to Velachery is 15 km (9 mi) elevated and 4 km (2 mi) at surface. [20] [12] The ongoing 5 km (3 mi) extension of the line from Velachery to St. Thomas Mount is also elevated. [12] [20]
The route taken by the MRTS line has been criticized for choking the Buckingham Canal as many pillars of the elevated section of the railway have been placed on the canal bed. [40] Although the canal itself has not been maintained and has been in decline due to fly tipping and sewage, the state government had proposed plans to restore it to make it navigable. [41] [40] [42] However, a section of the canal will remain unavailable for navigation due to the presence of the pillars. The pillars have further reduced the canal width blocking the flow of storm water discharge during rains. [43] [40] [44]
The MRTS line currently has 18 operational stations. [45] The Chennai Beach station is a hub terminal for several suburban trains, and, along with Chennai Fort station, it serves the commercial area of Broadway. [46] [47] Chennai Park Town station is located opposite Chennai Central, which is a hub for both long-distance express trains and suburban trains. [48] [49] Places of tourist interest such as Parthasarathy Temple, Kapaleeshwarar Temple and Mundagakanniamman Koil are located along the MRTS railway line. [50] [51] [52] Marina Beach spans along a stretch of the line closer to Thiruvallikeni station and the Chepauk station lies abutting the Chepauk cricket stadium. [53] [54] [55]
The MRTS passes along the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) which forms part of the information technology (IT) corridor with many companies located in the region. [56] [57] [58] [59] Upon completion of the St. Thomas Mount station at the southern end of the proposed alignment, the station will have three different types of railway networks, namely, the suburban and long-distance express trains which will ply on the conventional tracks at ground level, the elevated MRTS line at the first level and the Chennai Metro Rail at the second level. [60] There are large, spacious stations on the existing MRTS line with attached parking lots and the stations are designed to accommodate six and nine-car train rakes. [61]
# | Station name [45] | Distance (km) [20] | Opening | Connections [62] | Layout | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
English | Tamil | Transliteration | |||||
1 | Chennai Beach | சென்னை கடற்கரை | Cennaī Kadarkarai | 0 | 16 November 1995 | Suburban | At Grade |
2 | Chennai Fort | சென்னை கோட்டை | Cennaī Kottai | 1.70 | 16 November 1995 | Suburban | At Grade |
3 | Chennai Park Town | சென்னை பூங்கா நகர் | Cennaī Poonga Nagar | 2.54 | 1 November 1995 | Central Main Line Suburban Metro – Blue Line Metro – Green Line | At Grade |
4 | Chintadripet | சிந்தாதிரிப்பேட்டை | Chinthadripettai | 3.43 | 16 November 1995 | Elevated | |
5 | Chepauk | சேப்பாக்கம் | Chepakkam | 5 | 16 November 1995 | Elevated | |
6 | Thiruvallikeni | திருவல்லிக்கேணி | Thiruvallikeni | 5.74 | 19 October 1997 | Elevated | |
7 | Light House | கலங்கரை விளக்கம் | Kalangarai Vilakkam | 6.95 | 19 October 1997 | Elevated | |
8 | Mundagakanniamman Koil | முண்டகக்கண்ணியம்மன் கோவில் | Mundagakanniamman Kovil | 7.925 | 14 May 2014 | Elevated | |
9 | Thirumayilai | திருமயிலை | Thirumayilai | 8.66 | 19 October 1997 | Elevated | |
10 | Mandaveli | மந்தைவெளி | Mandaiveli | 9.699 | 26 January 2004 | Elevated | |
11 | Greenways Road | பசுமைவழிச் சாலை | Pasumaivazhi Salai | 11.02 | 26 January 2004 | Elevated | |
12 | Kotturpuram | கோட்டூர்புரம் | Kottoorpuram | 11.892 | 26 January 2004 | Elevated | |
13 | Kasturba Nagar | கஸ்தூரிபாய் நகர் | Kasturibai Nagar | 12.824 | 26 January 2004 | Elevated | |
14 | Indira Nagar | இந்திரா நகர் | Indira Nagar | 13.796 | 26 January 2004 | Elevated | |
15 | Thiruvanmiyur | திருவான்மியூர் | Thiruvanmiyur | 14.655 | 26 January 2004 | Elevated | |
16 | Taramani | தரமணி | Tharamani | 16.57 | 19 November 2007 | Elevated | |
17 | Perungudi | பெருங்குடி | Perungudi | 17.713 | 19 November 2007 | At Grade | |
18 | Velachery | வேளச்சேரி | Velachery | 19.34 | 19 November 2007 | At Grade |
Various plans have been made to make use of the empty space in the MRTS stations. [63] In February 2009, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) planned to set up food stalls at 12 MRTS stations. [64] [65] In September 2013, the IRCTC invited tenders to set up food stalls at three stations Tirumayilai, Thiruvanmiyur and Velachery and the first such stall was inaugurated in April 2018 at Thiruvanmiyur station. [66] [67]
MRTS has been criticized for poor maintenance of stations, lack of inter-modal transport facility and security issues. [68] [69] [70] The stations often face vandalism, seepage of rainwater through holes in the roofs and non-functional station amenities such as lifts and escalators. [71] [72]
In 2012, there was a shortage in the strength of the Railway Protection Force personnel at MRTS stations which raised security concerns. [73] In 2013, in order to improve the security for the passengers using the network, it was declared that the MRTS stations would have a single designated entry and exit point as it was difficult for the existing RPF personnel to monitor multiple gates at the same time. [74] [75] If the planned take over of the MRTS system by Chennai Metro goes through, the existing line will be upgraded to make it compatible with the metro system and the infrastructure will be modernized with improved facilities at stations and single integrated ticketing system among others. [76]
The Chennai MRTS line bears greater resemblance to the Chennai Suburban Railway as opposed to a rapid transit line as it uses the same broad gauge (5 ft 6in) as the suburban railway system, thus allowing the usage of same train-sets in the existing suburban lines and the MRTS. [7] [77] Ballastless track is used between Tirumayilai and Velachery stations. [7] [78] The trains use 25 kV overhead catenary for traction. [7] [79] [80]
The Chennai MRTS uses nine-car electrical multiple unit train sets. [81] A nine-car rake typically has three motor coaches each at the front, the middle and the last with electric motors used to drive the wheels of the train at a stipulated speed. [82] In India, EMU coaches are manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. [83] The coaches are not air-conditioned and are equipped with first-class and second-class passenger seating. [84] [85] [86]
The current operational route length between Chennai Beach and Velachery is 19.34 km (12.02 mi) and has a journey time of 45 minutes. [20] [87] [88] The first train departs from Chennai Beach at 4:15 am, and the last one departs at 9:35 pm. From Velachery, the first train departs at 5:00 am to Chennai beach, with the last train departing Velachery at 10:20 pm. [89] About 70 trips are operated on weekdays and 51 trips on Sundays and holidays. [89] [90]
The schedule for the MRTS services is available on Google Maps on Android smartphone devices. [91] [92] [93] [94] The trains can be tracked real time with consumers able to obtain updates through an automated SMS system. [95]
The minimum fare for a second class Chennai MRTS ticket is ₹5 (6.3¢ US) and the maximum fare is capped at ₹10 (13¢ US). [96] [97] First class tickets cost about five times higher than the second class fare. [98] In addition to one-time tickets for travel, the Southern Railways issues monthly tickets and quarterly season tickets for more frequent travelers. [99] [100] Short validity tickets are available for tourists. [101] [102] Tickets can be bought at the counters or booked through mobile app. [103]
The ridership increased from approximately 25,000 in 2000 to 66,518 passengers per day in 2008. [104] When the MRTS was extended up to Velachery in 2007, it saw a three-fold increase in the revenue. [105] In 2015, the ridership increased to about 100,000 commuters a day. [1] [106] Of the system's 18 stations, Park Town, Thirumayilai, Thiruvanmiyur and Velachery account for nearly 40 percent of the ridership. [107]
In a measure to increase patronage, the MRTS had adopted several schemes to draw potential passengers. [108] In 2023, Chennai Urban Transport Authority (CUMTA) introduced plans to improve last-mile connectivity to improve usage. [109] Indian Railways also operates special trains on certain occasions to boost revenue. As the route passes close to some of the most famous temples of Chennai, the MRTS operates special trains during popular religious festivals such as the Vaikunta Ekadashi at Parthasarathy Temple in Thiruvallikeni and Arupathumoovar festival at the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore. [50] [51] Special trains are also run during cricket matches at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium at Chepauk, [54] [110] [111] Kaanum Pongal at Marina Beach [112] [113] and bus strikes. [114]
Access to the Chennai MRTS remains an issue as it does not fully integrate with other modes of transportation in the city. [115] [116] As per a survey conducted in 2012, special focus was required on pedestrian facilities that would provide access to MRTS stations from nearby roads and bus stops, apart from identifying new feeder routes for the network. [117] Post the completion of the under construction extension, the MRTS system will be connected to the Chennai Suburban Railway and the Chennai Metro Rail at St. Thomas Mount. This will enable the commuters to access the railway grid of the different operational rail systems and facilitate improved connectivity from the stations on the MRTS network. [118] The extension up to St. Thomas Mount is expected to increase patronage derived from people working in the IT establishments, residences and other offices near to the MRTS network. [119] [120]
In a ten month period in 2009–10, the MRTS earned a revenue of ₹12.76 crore (US$1.6 million) with ₹12.21 crore (US$1.5 million) from ticketing sales and had operating expenses of about ₹23 crore (US$2.9 million), translating into losses of more than ₹10 crore (US$1.3 million). [61] As of 2023, the MRTS registered revenues of ₹20 crore (US$2.5 million) annually. But with an estimated operational expenses of about ₹105 crore (US$13 million), the annual losses widened to ₹85 crore (US$11 million). [109] [121] The losses are mainly due to the cheaper fares which are subsidized by the Southern Railway, which runs the service. [96]
Adambakkam is a neighbourhood of Chennai, India. It is primarily a residential locality situated in South Chennai. Adambakkam area comes under Velachery taluk and Alandur taluk, Chennai District of Chennai Corporation. Adambakkam is surrounded by areas namely, Alandur in the North-West, Nanganallur in the West, Madipakkam in the South, Velachery in the East and Guindy in the North. Earlier, one part of Adambakkam was under the direct governance of Chennai Corporation. From October 2011 onwards, the entire area was merged with the Chennai Corporation. Upon completion of the MRTS extension line, the neighbourhood will be served by Adambakkam railway station. Its Proximity to commercial localities like Velachery, accessible railway stations, Metro Stations and road transport routes makes Adambakkam an ideal choice of location to live.
Transport in Chennai includes various modes of air, sea, road and rail transportation in the city and its suburbs. Chennai's economic development has been closely tied to its port and transport infrastructure, and it is considered one of the best infrastructure systems in India.
Chennai Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Chennai, India. As of April 2024, the operational network consists of two colour-coded lines covering a length of 54.1 km (33.6 mi) making it the fifth longest metro system in India. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), a joint venture between Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu built and operates the Chennai Metro. The system uses standard gauge and has a mix of underground and elevated stations.
Chennai Fort is a station on the Chennai Suburban Railway and Chennai MRTS. It is the second station on the Chennai MRTS line from Chennai Beach to Velachery.
Chennai Beach is a railway terminus of the Southern Railway network in Parry's Corner, Chennai, India. Built on reclaimed land, the station serves the suburban services of the Chennai Suburban Railway and Mass Rapid Transit System (Chennai) and a few passenger trains. It serves as the northern terminus for the Chennai MRTS line. The station is named after High Court Beach, which was later built up as part of Chennai Port, and not after the Marina Beach, which is located a few kilometres away and is served by Chepauk, Triplicane and Lighthouse stations of the MRTS line. The station consists of 1500 square metres of open parking area.
The Chennai Suburban Railway is a commuter rail system in the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, operated by the Southern Railways branch of Indian Railways. It is the second largest suburban rail network in terms of route length and the third largest in terms of commuters in India. Around 1,000 services are operated daily between 4:00 a.m. and midnight. It is the longest suburban circular route in India covering of 235.5 km (146.3 mi).
Tambaram railway station is an NSG–1 category Indian railway station in Chennai railway division of Southern Railway zone. It is also one of the railway terminals of the Chennai Beach–Tambaram section of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network, situated at a distance of 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the centre of Tambaram and 27 kilometres (17 mi) from Chennai Beach station. It is one of the fastest-growing railway hubs outside Chennai Central in the southern direction. Every day, on an average, around 150,000 commuters use the station. About 500 suburban electric trains operate from Tambaram, including those between Chennai Beach and Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram. Further, more than 25 express trains, including those bound for Howrah and other places in the northern India, pass through the town. It is also the third busiest station in the city. It is one of the four railway terminals within Chennai City. The daily ticket sales at Tambaram fetch ₹ 1 million, half of which comes from suburban travellers. It is the second most revenue-generating station in Chennai after Moore Market Complex. A total of 52 trains pass through the station.
Chennai Park Town, or just Park Town, is a railway station on the Chennai MRTS. Located just to the east of Pallavan Salai and to the south of the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in the Park Town neighbourhood of Chennai, it exclusively serves the Chennai MRTS. The station is adjacent to Chennai Park, which serves the Chennai Suburban Railway. It is also within walking distance to Chennai Central. Although within walking distance, a 1 km overhead pedestrian walkway is being planned to connect Chennai Central with the MRTS station.
Chepauk is a station on the Chennai MRTS railway line. It is located in the eastern Chennai neighbourhood of Chepauk near the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. The station is built on the bank of Buckingham Canal. The station was opened in November 1995 as a part of the first phase, when services were operated from Chennai Beach station to Chepauk. As it is adjacent to the government offices in the area, such as Kuralagam and Doordarshan, the station sees many commuters who work in these offices.
The Velachery MRTS Station is a ground level station on the Chennai MRTS railway line in Chennai. It is located near the junction of Velachery Main Road and Inner Ring Road in Velachery. The station is built on the northern banks of Pallikaranai wetland.
Thiruvallikeni is a station on the Chennai MRTS. Located just behind the Marina Campus of the University of Madras along the Marina Beach, it exclusively serves the Chennai MRTS. The station serves the neighbourhood of Triplicane.
Thiruvanmiyur is a station on the Chennai MRTS in India. Located opposite the Tidel Park on Rajiv Gandhi Salai at Taramani, it exclusively serves the Chennai MRTS.
Light House is a railway station on the Chennai MRTS. It is located behind the Queen Mary's college, between Avvai Shanmugam Salai in Triplicane and Radha Krishnan Salai at Mylapore. It is the MRTS station for the famous Chennai Lighthouse.
Mandaveli is a railway station on the Chennai MRTS. Located across the Venkatakrishna Road at Mandaveli, it exclusively serves the Chennai MRTS.
Greenways Road is a railway station on the Chennai MRTS. Located on Greenways Road, it exclusively serves the Chennai MRTS.
Kasturibai Nagar or Kasturba Nagar is a railway station on the Chennai MRTS. Located near the Madhya Kailash junction on Rajiv Gandhi Salai, it exclusively serves the Chennai MRTS.
Indira Nagar is a railway station on the Chennai MRTS. Located opposite the Institute of Chemical Technology on Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR), it exclusively serves the Chennai MRTS. The station can also be accessed through canal bank road, Indira Nagar.
Taramani is a railway station on the Chennai MRTS in Chennai, India. Located off MGR Main Road in Taramani, it exclusively serves the Chennai MRTS.
Perungudi is a railway station on the Chennai MRTS. It serves the neighbourhood of Perungudi, including localities such as Indira Nagar, Park Avenue and Tansi Nagar. It is located 1.3 km from the Perungudi Lake.
St. Thomas Mount railway station, locally known as Mount railway station or Parangimalai station, is one of the railway stations of the Chennai Beach–Chengalpattu section of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network. It serves the neighbourhood of St. Thomas Mount and Pazhavanthangal, which are suburbs of Chennai. It is located at a distance of 17 km (11 mi) from Chennai Beach terminus, with an elevation of 11 m (36 ft) above sea level.
Notes
This was appreciated by the Planning Commission way back in 1965, when it took the initiative to set up Metropolitan Transport Teams (MTT) to study the transport problems of the first four metropolitan cities of Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi and Madras and to recommend policies and programs for their improvement.