After nine long years of waiting, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is finally getting ready to build a second entry and exit point for the OTA – Nanganallur Road Metro Station.
Why It Took So Long
Unlike most metro stations in Chennai’s Phase I and its extension, the OTA – Nanganallur Road station has had only one entry and exit—on the side of GST Road towards the airport. People coming from the Alandur side have had to take long and time-consuming detours, either by foot or by vehicle.
The reason being that the land on the other side belongs to the Officers Training Academy (OTA). For years, this made it difficult for CMRL to build anything there. But after years of talks, CMRL and OTA reached an agreement, and the station was even renamed in 2023 to OTA – Nanganallur Road, as per The Hindu.
Work to Begin Soon
CMRL has already floated bids to build the new access point. Officials say the contract will be finalised in three months, and the work will begin soon after. The new entry/exit will have:
- Staircases
- Escalators
- Elevators
- A direct link to the station’s concourse and platform
If everything goes to plan, the work will be completed by 2026.
What Do Commuters Say?
Local resident and regular metro user A. Ragavan said, “I spend an extra 10 minutes every day taking a roundabout route just to reach the station. This second entry is long overdue.”
Another commuter, Akila Varadarajan, welcomed the move but urged CMRL to go a step further. “We also need affordable last-mile connectivity like minibuses. Not everyone can afford autos, especially senior citizens.”
