PM Modi and Tamil Nadu CM Vijay flag off Chennai Metro Rail’s first train for Phase II project, ride together

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay inaugurated the Poonamallee-Vadapalani II section on 11 October 2026. phase of the Chennai Metro Rail project in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. | Photo credit: YouTube/@NarendraModi

A new chapter of the Chennai Metro Rail began on Sunday (October 11, 2026) morning when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay flagged off the Phase II network from Porur Bypass Metro Station.

The 54 km long Phase II network is now 68 km long after the opening of the Poonamallee-Vadapalani section.

Arriving at the Porur Bypass station around 11:30 am, Mr. Modi and Mr. Vijay were briefed on various aspects of Project II. phase of 118.9 km long, including Kathipara Balanced Elevation Project and tunneling work progress.

Also Read: PM Modi in Tamil Nadu LIVE

Subsequently, both of them checked out of the first service and boarded the next train for the journey from Porur bypass to Poonamallee.

The 14.6 km Poonamallee-Vadapalani section, which was subsequently inaugurated at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, consists of eleven elevated stations – Poonamallee Bypass, Poonamallee Bus Stand, Poonamallee Government Hospital, Karayanchavadi, Kumananchavadi, Kattupakkam, Iyyappanthangal, Iyyappanthangal, Porpalaniiyarag, Porpalaurpass.

The existing tariff system will continue (₹10-50). A one way journey from Poonamallee to Vadapalani will cost ₹40.

The stretch is part of Corridor 4 of the Phase II project, which runs from Poonamallee to Light House (26.1 km).

The 118.9 km Phase II project has two more corridors under construction – Corridor 3 (Madhavaram to SIPCOT) and Corridor 5 (Madhavaram to Sholinganallur).

At Vadapalani station, both the Phase I and Phase II networks intersect and are connected by an “L” shaped skywalk. Commuters can use this facility to transfer from the Phase II network to the Phase I network and travel to various locations on Corridor I (Wimco Nagar to Chennai Airport) and Corridor II (Chennai Central to St. Thomas Mount).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay took the metro from Porur Bypass to Poonamallee after the inauguration in Chennai on Sunday. | Photo credit: ANI

The new stretch will facilitate connectivity for commuters from suburbs including Porur, Poonamallee and Karayanchavadi to some important transport hubs such as Chennai Airport, Chennai Central Railway Station and Chennai Egmore Railway Station. For industrial workers, students and the general public, the newly opened stretch will significantly improve mobility between the core areas of Chennai and the western suburbs.

The Phase II network uses the CBTC (Communication Based Train Control) signaling system and, unlike the Phase I network, has fixed platform grating doors to protect passengers at elevated stations.

Passenger traffic started on Sunday from 4 p.m. Regular passenger transport from Monday will be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m

Published – 11 October 2026 14:12 IST