Chennai Metro Phase II began its first passenger operations on Sunday, October 11, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay flagged off the first train from Porur Bypass Metro Rail station in Chennai. Passenger services on the newly opened stretch began at 4 p.m., connecting commuters between Poonamallee and Vadapalani through the Phase II network.
The inauguration marked the latest expansion of the Chennai Metro Rail system, whose operational network has increased from 54 km to 68 km with the opening of the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch. The event took place at Porur Bypass station, where the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister were briefed on the wider 118.9-km Phase II project before flagging off the train.
The briefing covered several elements of the project, including the balanced cantilever work at Kathipara and the progress of tunnelling operations, according to The Hindu. After the briefing, Mr. Modi purchased a ticket, walked through the station and reached the platform before joining Mr. Vijay for the flag-off ceremony.
The two leaders then boarded a train for a ride from Porur Bypass to Poonamallee. The inaugural journey provided the first public demonstration of the newly commissioned connection, which is expected to add another rail-based travel option for residents and workers in the western and southwestern parts of Chennai.
Passenger operations began with two trains departing at 4 p.m.—one from Poonamallee and another from Vadapalani. Chennai Metro Rail said regular services from Monday would operate between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. The schedule establishes the initial operating window for commuters using the new stretch.
The service launch is part of Chennai Metro Rail’s larger Phase II expansion, planned across 118.9 km. The project includes both elevated and underground construction activity, with tunnelling work continuing in parts of the network. The inauguration therefore combines the opening of one passenger segment with ongoing construction and implementation across the wider Phase II corridor.
The increase in the operational network to 68 km gives Chennai’s metro system a broader footprint than before, but the full Phase II project remains under development. The details provided for the opening did not specify the complete commissioning schedule for the remaining sections or changes to interchange arrangements across the network.
For commuters, the immediate change is the availability of services between Poonamallee and Vadapalani from Sunday afternoon, followed by regular operations from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and subsequent operating days. Further details on fares, station-level facilities and integration with other public transport services were not provided in the report.
The next operational milestone is the continuation of passenger services on the new stretch from Monday under the regular 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. timetable, while work proceeds on the remaining components of Chennai Metro Rail’s Phase II project.
