Chennai Metro Rail Limited will begin passenger services on the 15-km Poonamallee Bypass–Vadapalani stretch of Phase II Corridor 4, also known as the Yellow Line, from 4 pm on Sunday after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The elevated section will connect western Chennai with Vadapalani through 11 stations, including key residential, commercial and transport locations.
The initial Sunday service will run in both directions from 4 pm to 9 pm. Regular operations will begin at 7 am on Monday, with trains continuing until 9 pm from both Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani terminals, according to a press release issued by CMRL.
The new Chennai Metro Phase II stretch will serve Poonamallee Bypass, Poonamallee Bus Stand, Poonamallee Government Hospital, Karayanchavadi, Kumananchavadi, Kattupakkam, Iyyappanthangal, Thelliyaragaram, Porur Bypass, Porur Junction and Vadapalani. The alignment passes through densely occupied neighbourhoods and commercial areas that currently depend heavily on roads and bus services for connections towards central and southern parts of the city.
From Monday to Saturday, trains will operate every 10 minutes during the morning peak period from 8 am to 11 am and the evening peak period from 5 pm to 8 pm. During non-peak periods, services will run every 15 minutes between 7 am and 8 am, 11 am and 5 pm, and 8 pm and 9 pm.
On Sundays and public holidays, CMRL will not operate a separate peak-hour timetable. Trains will run every 15 minutes throughout the service period, from 7 am to 9 pm. The last train will leave at 9 pm from both terminals.
The opening adds a new east-west public transport connection across an important section of western Chennai. Commuters travelling between Poonamallee, Porur, Vadapalani and the neighbourhoods along the route will have an additional rail option for daily journeys, including trips to employment, healthcare, education and commercial destinations. The Poonamallee Government Hospital, bus interchange areas and Porur Junction are among the locations receiving direct access through the new stations.
The commencement of passenger operations marks a further step in the expansion of Chennai’s Metro network under Phase II. For CMRL, the immediate operational task will be to run the announced timetable across the new elevated section, maintain 10-minute peak frequencies on weekdays and provide the scheduled 15-minute service during non-peak periods, Sundays and public holidays.
