Chennai Metro has opened a 15-km stretch between Poonamallee and Vadapalani, adding 11 elevated stations to Phase II of the city’s network and creating a new rapid-transit connection between western suburbs and the city centre. Passenger services began at 4 pm on October 11 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the route.
The new section forms part of Corridor 4 of the Chennai Metro Rail Project’s Phase II and was developed at a cost of around Rs 4,900 crore. The route includes a 3.7-km double-decker structure and is expected to improve connectivity for residents and commuters travelling between Poonamallee and central parts of Chennai.
Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay jointly flagged off the services in the presence of Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. The Prime Minister also travelled on the newly inaugurated route, purchased a ticket and interacted briefly with an employee at the ticket counter.
The 11 stations on the new stretch are Poonamallee Bypass, Poonamallee Bus Stand, Poonamallee Government Hospital, Karayanchavadi, Kumananchavadi, Kattupakkam, Iyappanthangal, Thelliyaragaram, Porur Bypass, Porur Junction and Vadapalani. All stations on the section are elevated.
According to Chennai Metro Rail, trains will run in both directions until 9 pm on October 11. Regular daily services will begin from 7 am to 9 pm from October 12. The last train will depart at 9 pm from both terminals: Poonamallee Bypass Metro station and Vadapalani Metro station on Corridor 4.
The opening extends Chennai’s metro reach into the western suburban corridor while adding a new set of stations serving residential, institutional and commercial areas along the route. The immediate operational milestone is the start of regular daily services from October 12, with trains continuing to operate between the two terminals during the announced service window.
