CHENNAI — Southern Railway has completed a comprehensive electrical safety inspection of the newly built Mount–Velachery Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) line as part of final preparations before the official railway safety review, officials confirmed on March 3, 2026. Engineers checked critical electrical components including overhead equipment, traction substations and power supply systems on the 5-kilometre stretch between Velachery and St Thomas Mount, ensuring the infrastructure meets reliability and safety standards ahead of the statutory review by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS).
The inspection, led by Southern Railway’s Principal Chief Electrical Engineer Ganesh, was timed ahead of the CRS safety inspection scheduled for March 5, when a high-speed trial run will assess track geometry, signalling systems, and overall operational readiness. Officials say this step is essential for securing the final safety clearance that will allow the long-awaited MRTS extension to open to the public on March 10, 2026. The expanded line includes three new stations — Puzhuthivakkam, Adambakkam and St Thomas Mount — and is expected to improve last-mile connectivity for commuters in south Chennai.
Southern Railway expressed confidence that all electrical installations are functioning efficiently and safely, paving the way for the formal safety review and eventual launch of passenger services. …news as reported
