Chennai Metro Drops Kaliamman Koil Station, Adds Direct Koyambedu Link in Corridor 5 Revamp

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has started construction on a modified alignment of the Corridor 5 project (Madhavaram-Sholinganallur), which has dropped the Kaliamman Koil Street station and instead offers a more direct connection to Koyambedu.

Land acquisition has decreased as a result, and those line alignments have been moved by the new travel behavior of commuters due to the movement of long-distance buses from the CMBT to Kilambakkam.

Previously, the alignment was curved after passing the VR Mall to accommodate the Kaliamman Koil Street station targeted at residential areas close by, as well as political office areas. That section has now been scrapped, and the new design now directly joins Kendriya Vidyalaya with Koyambedu in a more straightened way.

In the end, Koyambedu will be a big metro hub with stacked at the same location Corridor 2 and Corridor 5 stations. Changes in design not only avoided 100 Feet Road but also made construction simpler through a co-located infrastructure model. Substation configurations will also be updated to the new layout. The double-decker viaduct design is going to be retained and going to finish by June 2026.

Feedback from local communities is much towards the modification. Residents at Natesan Nagar did appreciate the deletion of the Kaliamman Koil Street station, as this would help maintain safe pedestrian movement, as well as congestion on the surface. The Tamil Nadu Highways Department has announced an ₹18-crore revival of the pedestrian skywalk project for an integrated foot-connection between Jawaharlal Nehru Road and Poonamallee High Road.

However, other segments of the corridor face setbacks. In the Madhavaram–Nadambur stretch, tunnelling below the Coovum River remains delayed due to late clearances from the Water Resources Department, even though tenders have now been re-awarded after a cancelled JICA contract.

At Thirumangalam, the planned station has been shifted from an over-bridge location to an alignment cutting through four apartment buildings, which will be acquired. Officials have assured compensation under standard norms, though local opposition is expected.

CMRL’s realignment marks a significant rethinking of Corridor 5, balancing construction ease, urban planning, and evolving transit demand.