Already abuzz with activity owing to the presence of moffusil bus terminal and vegetable market, Koyambedu would witness a sea change and transform into a hub of rail transport in the state capital in a year.
Koyambedu would be the prime control centre of the `14,600 crore metro rail network under construction in the city. CMBT would share the neighbourhood with an 800-metre-long metro rail test track that would assess the performance of the four-car metro trains in around a year.
Long before a metro train traverses through or carries passengers on 100 feet road between Koyambedu and St Thomas Mount in December 2013, Chennai will have the feel of metro rail movement when the French-made metro cars would be pushed to the limits of endurance by testing them at maximum speed in the unique slab tracks specially designed for local soil conditions.
Also, rolling stocks of the metro rails would be housed, maintained and repaired at the large linear workshop characterising a train.
A stabling shed, comprising 12 lines, would accommodate 36 trains (four cars each) in the depot.
The depot would also earn the distinction of having the first-of-its-kind embedded track levelled floor with automatic washing facility besides three guided, elevated platforms for daily manual cleaning that will keep the metro coaches clean.
Authorities plan to make the depot a platinum-rated green building with provisions for natural lighting and ventilation.
The depot would also have 7.5 m clear high spaces with overhead electric lines and inspection and lifting bays besides four lines of periodic inspection with central pit and overhead platform in each line.
The depot would also be equipped with bogie turntables of international standards for complete overhaul and de-wheeling and re-wheeling of the bogies.