Chennai's Poonamallee-Porur Metro Line Set To Begin Operations Soon
Chennai Metro Rail Limited is poised to launch commercial operations on its first Phase II stretch, with the 14.6-kilometre Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani corridor receiving crucial safety authorisation on 28th February. The Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety has cleared the stretch for operations, with final approval now awaited from the Railway Board and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The new corridor will connect 10 stations between Poonamallee Bypass and Porur Junction, operating at 15-minute intervals initially. Between Porur Junction and Vadapalani, trains will run at restricted speeds of less than 25 kilometres per hour, with one train operating in each direction at 20-minute frequencies. Officials anticipate increased frequency after the initial month of operations.
The Commissioner has stipulated conditions for the Porur-Vadapalani section, requiring completion of 26 deck slabs in the double-decker section of Corridor 5 before full operations commence. Chennai Metro Rail Limited expects to finish these works by 25th March, according to senior officials who expressed confidence in meeting the deadline.
The Poonamallee-Porur stretch forms part of the 26.1-kilometre Corridor 4, which will eventually connect Poonamallee with Lighthouse via Porur. The elevated corridor is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion along the busy Mount-Poonamallee Road, providing west Chennai residents with a modern alternative to heavily congested road travel during peak hours.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which secured the contract to manage the 118.9-kilometre Phase II network, has already mobilised staff and completed operator training programmes. The new stations feature compact designs for quicker platform access and include half-height platform screen doors as enhanced safety measures. Commuters will be able to continue using National Common Mobility Cards and QR code tickets, maintaining compatibility with the existing Phase I network.
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