PM Modi, Tamil Nadu CM Vijay to take inaugural Chennai Metro ride

The first operational stretch of Chennai Metro Rail’s Phase 2 network is set to open between Poonamallee and Vadapalani after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay take an inaugural ride on October 11, 2026.

The 15-km stretch will be opened for commuters after the inauguration programme concludes, while Mr. Modi and Mr. Vijay will travel from Poonamallee to Porur Bypass.

Commuter access after inauguration

The flag-off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., after which the Phase 2 project will be inaugurated along with various other projects at IIT-Madras around 2 p.m.

Commuters will be allowed to use the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch only after the event concludes around 4 p.m.

The opening follows nearly six years of work on Chennai Metro Rail Limited’s 118.9-km Phase 2 network and comes after a ten-month delay.

The first train from Porur Bypass is set to run till Poonamallee on October 11, 2026, with the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister among the first few commuters.

Restricted initial operating hours

During the initial period, Phase 2 trains will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., compared with the 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. operating hours of the Phase 1 network.

Sources said the shorter operating window will facilitate night-time construction at six stations on the stretch from Porur Junction to Vadapalani.

The stations where construction is continuing are Alapakkam, Karambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Saligramam Warehouse and Saligramam.

Fifteen trains will initially operate between Poonamallee and Vadapalani.

During peak hours, commuters will have a train every 10 minutes.

The peak periods will be from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

During non-peak hours, trains will run every 15 minutes.

The non-peak periods will be from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sources said the frequency will be improved after the civil work at the six stations is completed.

Project milestones

The Tamil Nadu government accorded in-principle approval for the Phase 2 project in January 2019.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the project in November 2020.

Piling work for the elevated Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch began on Arcot Road in July 2021.

The Cabinet approved the Chennai Metro Rail Phase 2 project in October 2024, the same month that the first driverless train arrived at the Poonamallee depot.

Chennai Metro Rail completed the viaduct between Poonamallee and Porur in March 2025.

A trial run from Poonamallee till Porur was conducted in April 2025.

The Railway Board approved operation of the signalling system in December 2025.

A trial run from Porur Junction to Vadapalani was carried out in January 2026.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety inspected the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch in February 2026 and granted only conditional approval at that stage.

Final authorisation for operations between Poonamallee and Vadapalani was granted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety in May 2026.

The October 2026 inauguration marks the start of passenger operations on the first stretch of the Phase 2 network, with the initial service plan shaped by ongoing construction at six stations.

Source: The Hindu