Chennai Metro Phase II to Feature Shopping, Dining and Office Spaces at 35 Stations

The ambitious 118.9 km second phase of the Chennai Metro, now under construction, will see several stations being converted to buzzing commercial complexes that would include retail shops, quick-bite outlets and office spaces.

The Phase II network will connect 128 stations across three significant corridors—Madhavaram to SIPCOT (Corridor 3), Light House to Poonamallee (Corridor 4) and Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (Corridor 5). Realising this potential, CMRL is reserving exclusive space for property development in 35 of these stations so that food, beverage and retail outlets can be attracted.

And just as Hong Kong and Shanghai have done, officials say, the layout of most stations is being configured so that passengers will be funneled through concourse-level commercial thoroughfares before they reach the train platforms.

“Vibrant station spaces promote commuter security and encourage public transport uptake,” a CMRL official said. “Additionally, non-fare revenue will be enhanced significantly by adding retail components within transit hubs.”

In Corridor 3, Madhavaram High Road, Ayanavaram, Perambur Barracks Road, Royapettah, Thousand Lights, Perungudi and Sholinganallur will have separate commercial spaces at the ticketing level in as many as 22 stations.

Similarly, key stations on Corridor 4 such as Light House, Alwarpet, Bharathidasan Road and Panagal Park are also proposed for such development. Various commercial outlets will be located in Velmurugan Nagar, Thirumangalam, Alandur, and other areas in Corridor 5.

On the elevated stretch on OMR, CMRL is building a further 750 sq.m of commercial areas over the entry and exit points at stations such as Perungudi, Navalur, Semmancheri, and Siruseri, providing a scope for office and retail usage.

Consultants have also been tasked with preparing comprehensive plans for integrated commercial complexes at major interchange stations such as Thirumangalam, Nandanam, Thousand Lights and Alandur.

Through this mixed-use infrastructure development strategy, CMRL seeks to revolutionise urban mobility within Chennai while leveraging the transit economy.