Chennai Metro Rail’s Central Tower gets environmental clearance; construction to begin soon

Decks have been cleared for the proposed 27-storey ‘Central Tower’ with the Chennai Metro Rail receiving environmental clearance for the project. The State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) of the Tamil Nadu government has issued the clearance for building the tower.

Decks have been cleared for the proposed 27-storey ‘Central Tower’ with the Chennai Metro Rail receiving environmental clearance for the project. The State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) of the Tamil Nadu government has issued the clearance for building the tower.

After over seven years of planning and several changes to its design, the skyscraper’s construction, estimated to cost ₹365 crore, will begin this year. The project has received clearance from the SEIAA under category B in the Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006, sources said. “It comes under the purview of the SEIAA and has been approved under Schedule 8(a) of the EIA Notification, 2006, which includes building and construction projects,” a source said.

The ‘Central Square’, situated near the Chennai Central Railway Station, has been envisaged as a major traffic intersection and a public space, and the ‘Central Tower’ is a crucial component of the square. The 119-metre-high tower will feature a host of amenities for commuters, from entertainment to workspace.

There will be a multiplex and retail outlets on the first four floors. Offices will occupy maximum space in this tower with 20 floors designated for them. To give visitors an expansive view of the city, the top two floors will have hotels.

Commuting will be seamless for those visiting the square and the tower; with suburban, MRTS, and two corridors of the Chennai Metro Rail network, travel from the square to the arterial areas of the city will be made easy.

According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), the contractor will take over the site this month, and a small ceremony has been planned to mark the beginning of the project. “This is an iconic project and we want to carry it out with perfection. The detailed design and approval process will take a few months. After that, we will start the construction work in full swing. Once built, it will be a significant landmark that everyone will want to visit. The parking area has already been built,” an official said.

The parking area, which has been constructed over 24,154 sq.m at a cost of ₹197 crore, is capable of accommodating 586 cars and 1,652 two-wheelers.