Chennai Metro Rail misses deadline again, 6 stations on Arcot Road to open in March 2027

Due to the delay, Chennai Metro Rail will seek to extend the ‘temporary clearance’ granted to the Porur-Vadapalani section from the CRS. | Photo credit: SR RAGHUNATHAN

Nearly ten months behind schedule, Chennai Metro Rail has failed to complete the construction of six stations in the Poonamallee-Vadapalani section of the Phase II network, which is likely to be completed by March 2027.

The delay has resulted in thousands of commuters in areas like Alapakkam, Virugambakkam, Valasaravakkam and Saligramam not being able to access stations closer to their residence despite having Metro train services on Arcot Road.

Also Read: Chennai Metro services to start at 6 am on Poonamallee-Vadapalani section

In view of this delay, Chennai Metro Rail will also seek to extend the “temporary clearance” granted to the Porur-Vadapalani section by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), sources said.

After conducting several inspections, the CRS gave approval for the Poonamallee-Porur section without speed restrictions. But on the Porur-Vadapalani section, the authority has issued “provisional clearance” with trains running in manual mode and at speeds not exceeding 40 kmph, sources said.

The CRS, in a letter issued in May, said, “After completion of all pending works, CMRL will approach this authority for regular permission as this temporary permission is only till October 31, 2026.” With the construction of six stations on the Porur-Vadapalani stretch — Alapakkam, Karambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Saligramam Warehouse and Saligramam — delayed, Chennai Metro Rail is working on an application to extend this permission till March next year, sources said.

According to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) officials, they faced a severe labor shortage due to the elections from March to June this year. “But after that the strength of the workers increased substantially and the work was in full swing. We also had to work under many challenging conditions. It was very difficult to construct the platform and concourse between Alapakkam and Alwarthirunagar as it is a double-decker corridor (Corridor 4 and Corridor 5 of the Phase II network run parallel over each other),” said the official.

“Now, almost 95 percent of the work on the construction of the platforms of these stations is over. We are speeding up the work to complete the concourse and entry/exit structures of these stations,” the official added.

While the construction will end in January next year, CMRL will need another two months to complete the signaling work, another official said.

“But according to our estimate, it will be quite difficult to complete the signaling work even by March 2027. The opening of these six stations is likely to be delayed further,” the source said.

Published – 29 Oct 2026 05:00 IST