CHENNAI: Four months after the Chennai Metro Rail’s first Phase-2 line from Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani received approval for commissioning, passengers are still awaiting the commencement of services.
The 14.6 km stretch of corridor-4— the initial section of the 118.1 km Phase-2 network to be completed— obtained conditional approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) in February, followed by another approval in May after CMRL met all specified requirements.
Sources reveal that CMRL has reached out to the Centre to set an inauguration date, but an announcement has yet to be made.
The postponement has shifted the anticipated launch from December 2025 to March 2026 after the initial CRS approval, with delays attributed to assembly elections and the formation of the new government. “We are prepared for the inauguration. However, a fixed date has not been established yet. We expect it to occur soon,” stated a metro official.
The latest CRS approval lifted previous restrictions, allowing trains to operate at any frequency, although services are initially slated for 10-minute intervals. Additionally, trains can now run at a speed of 80 km/h between Poonamallee and Porur, while the speed between Porur and Vadapalani has increased from 25 km/h to 40 km/h.
However, travelers will face limitations as not all stations on the corridor will be accessible at the outset. Six stations—Alapakkam, Karambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Saligramam Warehouse, and Saligramam—will be temporarily closed due to ongoing construction, leaving only the ten stations between Poonamallee Bypass and Porur Junction, including Vadapalani, available in this first phase.
For residents in the western suburbs, the delay signifies longer waits for a line that promises to shorten travel times and offer the first metro connectivity to several rapidly developing neighborhoods. “Traveling from Iyyappanthangal to Vadapalani takes 90 minutes. If the line were operational, I could reach my destination in under 45 minutes. It’s concerning that construction is lagging, and the barricaded roads will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Why can’t CMRL at least open the prepared line? Why aren’t the Union and State governments prioritizing such critical projects, causing public inconvenience?” lamented L. Ganesh, an Iyyappanthangal resident.
