Chennai Metro Phase II Opens Its First Stretch: Poonamallee to Vadapalani, 11 Stations, Fares From ₹10
PM Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vijay flagged off the elevated, driverless-ready corridor on October 11. Regular services began on October 12.
Chennai's second-generation metro has opened its first section. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay inaugurated the Poonamallee Bypass–Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Rail's Phase II on Sunday, October 11, 2026, and rode the train together after the ceremony. Regular passenger services began on Monday, October 12.
The route
The stretch runs for about 15 km along the western corridor of the city and has 11 stations:
- Poonamallee Bypass
- Poonamallee Bus Stand
- Poonamallee Government Hospital
- Karayanchavadi
- Kumananchavadi
- Kattupakkam
- Iyappanthangal
- Thelliyaragaram
- Porur Bypass
- Porur Junction
- Vadapalani
The section includes a 3.7 km double-decker structure and signalling designed to support driverless operation. The stretch cost about ₹4,900 crore, according to reports of the launch.
At Vadapalani, passengers can change to the existing Phase I network, which makes the line a direct link between the fast-growing western suburbs, such as Porur and Poonamallee, and central Chennai.
Timings and fares
- Hours: trains run from 7 am to 9 pm in both directions. The last train leaves both terminals at 9 pm.
- Fares: roughly ₹10 to ₹40, depending on distance.
- Combined journeys: if you travel across both Phase I and Phase II, the maximum fare is capped at ₹50.
Timings and fares can change, so check Chennai Metro Rail's official channels before you travel.
What else was launched
The metro opening was part of a larger package of projects in Tamil Nadu worth about ₹13,000 crore, covering metro rail, highways, railways, ports, petroleum and education, according to DD News and News On AIR. The items reported include National Highway works, port projects at Chennai, Kamarajar and V.O. Chidambaranar ports, railway station upgrades under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, and the foundation stone for a lube oil base stock project at Chennai Petroleum Corporation's Manali refinery.
Why it matters
Until now, commuters from Poonamallee, Kattupakkam, Iyappanthangal and Porur have depended on road transport to reach central Chennai. The new line gives them a rail alternative with an interchange at Vadapalani, and Phase II as a whole is designed to take the metro to neighbourhoods that Phase I does not reach.
As with any new line, ridership will depend on how well the stations connect with buses, autos and parking, and how quickly the remaining Phase II sections open.
Chennai is not the only city expanding its metro network. In Delhi, the Metro has been in the news for other reasons this month; read our report on the Supreme Court's order on Delhi Metro services.
Sources
This article draws on the following reporting. Dates are when each source was originally published.
- The Daily Jagran: PM Modi, Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Inaugurate Chennai Metro's Poonamallee-Vadapalani Stretch: Check Fares, Route Map, Timings ·
- DD News: Chennai Metro: PM Modi inaugurates Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch, rides along with TN CM Vijay
- Deccan Chronicle: Modi Inaugurates Projects Worth Rs 13,000 Crore in Chennai
- News On AIR: PM Modi Launches Development Projects Worth ₹13,000 Crore in Tamil Nadu
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