TN clears ₹2,126-cr funding for land acquisition on Poonamallee–Sunguvarchatram metro corridor

The ₹2,126 crore sanctioned by the Tamil Nadu government is to be used by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) for the land acquisition and preparatory works for the Poonamalle-Sunguvarchatram metro, the most significant stretch in the westward metro expansion plan for Chennai.’

According to a recent Government Order, almost ₹1,836 crores, that is 86% of the sanctioned amount, will be credited into land acquisition and compensation of present structures lying on the 27.9 km stretch. The remaining portion will go towards surveys and roadworks, and related preparatory activities. The funding will be extended as subordinate debt to CMRL, continuing the state’s practice of underwriting early-stage metro costs.

The corridor will be a 52.94 km extension from Poonamallee to the upcoming greenfield airport at Parandur, while the first phase will take place through this link, Poonamallee-Sunguvarchatram. This entire extension is expected to cost around ₹15,906 crore. Of this, the first segment of 27.9 km is estimated at ₹8,779 crore and will have 14 elevated stations.

Transport experts have recommended that the Poonamallee-Sunguvarchatram stretch should be taken up as a priority because it would link important industrial and residential hubs. The line would connect Chembarambakkam, Thandalam, Irungattukottai, Sriperumbudur, and Sunguvarchatram and would eventually be extended toward the new Parandur airport.

The project is still pending final approval from the Union government. Officials have pointed out that it is important to secure land early to avoid delays, especially because this corridor cuts through designated areas for industrial growth and urban expansion.

The Poonamallee-Parandur extension is considered an investment in strategic infrastructure for westward development in Chennai; improvement of mobility to emerging economic clusters; and providing direct metro connectivity to the coming airport. Phase one of the priority along the stretch of Sunguvarchatram will increasingly pave the way towards eventual adoption for development with the long-term transport-urban trajectory.

In line with the allocation of this budget, CMRL is expected to initiate land acquisition and other processes related to the project, thus entering in a significant phase of the metro expansion works of Chennai as per the future urban transport scenario.