Chennai: Vacant space in seven MRTS stations between Chepauk and Velachery is to be explored for housing markets catering to the neighbourhood. The categories of markets will differ from each station depending on the location. The initiative follows attempts by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) in the past to commercially exploit the unoccupied space at MRTS stations failed to take off. Urban planners, however, caution that the move should not lead to the stations turning into parking hotspots for private vehicles. Plans to turn Chintadripet MRTS station, which housed parcel offices and was used for parking omnibuses till a decade ago, into a complex housing standalone shops including restaurants with an aim to decongest traffic on Arunachalam Street are being explored. At the southern end, the MRTS station at Velachery is likely to have upscale shops. Currently, most of the space inside MRTS stations remains vacant with the Velachery station alone running a food court. CMDA, which has two-third stakes in revenue generated from MRTS stations, will discuss with Southern Railway over the new proposal. A consultant would be engaged to study it.
CMDA officials said the plan was to provide an opportunity for shops in the neighbourhood to utilise space at MRTS stations such as Chintadripet so that adjoining roads can be decongested. “The concept is to generate revenue by catering to the immediate neighbourhood. At the same time, we will discuss with Southern Railway to ensure it does not cause any hardships to regular commuters and ways to facilitate access to shoppers,” an official said.
Advait Jani, senior manager (sustainable cities and transport) with WRI India, said the proposed facilities at MRTS stations should be accessed by cycles and pedestrians and that entry of private vehicles must be discouraged. “Otherwise, they would become congested hotspots for private vehicles,” he added.
The CMDA had examined plans to open the MRTS stations at Thiruvamiyur and Kasturba Nagar for office spaces and a convention centre with office space at Velachery about eight years ago. But, it did not materialise.