STN: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay opened the first working stretch of Corridor 4 on Monday. The section runs about 15 km from Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani. It cost ₹4,900 crore and has 11 elevated stations.
Both leaders rode the Metro from Poonamallee Bypass to Porur. Officials explained the project to them during the trip.
Chennai Metro Phase II Corridor 4 Starts With 11 Stations
West Chennai now has a direct Metro link. The line connects the western suburbs with the city centre. Commuters can use it instead of crowded roads.
The 11 elevated stations are:
- Poonamallee Bypass
- Poonamallee Bus Stand
- Poonamallee Government Hospital
- Karayanchavadi
- Kumananchavadi
- Kattupakkam
- Iyappanthangal
- Thelliyaragaram
- Porur Bypass
- Porur Junction
- Vadapalani
The line has a double-decker section of about 3.7 km. Here the Metro track runs above a road flyover. Engineers also fitted a signalling system that can run trains without drivers. The stretch has platform screen doors too. This is the first time Chennai has used them on an elevated Metro section.
Six Stations and Vadapalani Entry Points Are Still Under Construction
Work continues on six stations between Porur and Vadapalani. Workers are also building the permanent entry and exit points at Vadapalani. The New Indian Express reports that officials expect to finish these by December.
Until then, passengers must use a temporary link bridge. It joins the new Phase II station area with the existing Phase I station at Vadapalani. Riders who want to change to the older network will walk across this bridge.
What Comes Next After the Poonamallee–Vadapalani Section
Officials now plan to link Koyambedu with Alandur. This section will cover nearly 29.6 km. The original plan covered 26 km up to Chennai Trade Centre (CTC). Planners then added a 3.6 km link from CTC to Alandur. The new link passes through Butt Road, which has heavy traffic.
Crews have finished the track up to CTC. Officials expect trial runs from Koyambedu to CTC by the end of November. Track work on the CTC to Alandur link has not finished. Trials on that part need about two more months.
Key Details of Chennai Metro Phase II Corridor 4
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project | Chennai Metro Phase II, Corridor 4 |
| Opened stretch | Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani |
| Length | About 15 km |
| Cost | ₹4,900 crore |
| Stations open | 11 elevated stations |
| Double-decker section | About 3.7 km |
The opening takes Metro service further into west Chennai. Some work remains, though. Crews must finish the six stations and the Vadapalani entry points. After that, they must complete trial runs toward CTC and Alandur. The speed of this work will decide how soon the full network gives commuters the benefits planned for it.
FAQ
A: Corridor 4 is planned to run from Lighthouse to Poonamallee. The full length is about 26 km. The section that opened covers only part of it.
A: Phase II has three corridors: Corridor 3, Corridor 4 and Corridor 5. Together they cover about 118.9 km.
A: Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) builds and runs the network. It is a joint venture of the Government of India and the Tamil Nadu government.
A: Phase I opened in 2015. It has two lines and covers about 54 km.
A: Visit the official CMRL website or its mobile app. Both list current fares, timings and service updates.
A: Yes. At Vadapalani, passengers can change between the new section and the Phase I line. For now they must use the temporary link bridge.