Chennai Metro Phase II: Porur–Power House Double-Decker Viaduct Nears Completion

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is speeding towards an important landmark of construction in Phase II, with the viaduct and double-decker stretch along Arcot Road between Porur and Power House being expected to be near by the end of September.

This is an important stretch in Corridor 4, a 26.1 km corridor running from Light House to Poonamallee. Within this, the Porur-Power House section will have a 3.75 km double-decker viaduct between Alwarthirunagar and Alapakkam, an extremely rare design with metro tracks integrated at two levels. This will directly connect to the Phase I network at Vadapalani, with easy transfer for passengers between Corridor 4 and Corridor 5 at dominant stations like Alwarthirunagar, Valasaravakkam, Karambakkam, and Alapakkam.

About 95% of the 340 supporting piers have been completed, said the officials. Nearly six months had been added to the project schedule due to the complexity of urban work zones requiring special launching girders and of shifting underground pipelines and cables.

Almost all the segments of viaduct work have progressed, except for the ones at Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, and Vadapalani, targeted for completion within two months. Currently, track laying and overhead equipment (OHE) installation are underway at Vadapalani, Saligramam, Karambakkam and Alapakkam, which is scheduled to be completed at the end of the next four months.

This double-decker structure is going to rise in phases: the first level is expected to open for Corridor 4 within mid-2026; the second level will be up thereafter, as a result of becoming operational with part of Corridor 5, thus boosting connectivity and shortening travel time across Chennai’s expanding metro network.

When fully operational, the Porur-Power House double-decker viaduct will decongest the ever-busy Arcot Road surface traffic and provide an interchange station for unhindered movement among important metro corridors. With structures nearing completion, CMRL officials say the project is well on target with the revised timeframe, marking an important milestone in the completion of Chennai’s 118.9 km Phase II metro extension.