Work on airport Washermenpet metro station to start soon

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) have firmed up Rs 49.22 crore deal to build the airport-Washermenpet metro station within 14 months. Bids for the project will be opened by the end of the month, reported Times of India.

An MoU was signed in between the metro rail and AAI officials in the last week of February after which AAI floated a tender for the project that, according to an AAI senior official, said, "The tender will be opened on March 20. The contractor will have to build the station in 14 months."

CMRL has decided to entrust AAI with the job because the structure was to come up on airport premises and would have called for too much coordination if it were to handle the construction.

The station, which will come up near the existing police station in front of the airport, will have a basement and four floors. The construction of the station will be done by AAI, using the money and design provided by the metro rail authorities. After the construction is completed, CMRL will then lay tracks, electrify the line and install lifts, escalator and other facilities.