Chennai Metro Begins Trial Runs on Poonamallee–Porur Stretch under Phase II

Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) has commenced trial operations on the 9.1-km stretch between Poonamallee and Porur, marking a key milestone in the ₹63,246 crore Phase II expansion project.

The trial runs began on April 28, following earlier low-speed tests conducted in March between Poonamallee and Mullaithottam. Currently, test trains are operating at speeds of 15–20 km/h, with gradual acceleration planned as the trials advance.

Calling it a “major breakthrough,” CMRL Managing Director M.A. Siddique said the new corridor will improve access in the city’s western suburbs. While immediate ridership is expected to be moderate, officials believe numbers will rise significantly once the line connects eastward to Kodambakkam Power House. This future link with Vadapalani station on the Green Line is expected to form a vital west-to-central Chennai transport corridor.

A standout engineering feature of this section is the four-kilometre double-decker viaduct between Alapakkam and Alwarthirunagar, one of the most complex elements of the project. Its completion is targeted for mid-2026. Connectivity to Koyambedu and the Chennai Trade Centre is also on track for completion by mid-June.

The stretch includes the Poonamallee Metro Depot, which will serve as a key hub for operations and maintenance. Station construction is in its final phase, with completion expected in two to three months.

First, the corridor will run three-coach trains, although infrastructure is planned for six-coach configurations in the future.

The second phase of the Chennai Metro, with a projected cost of USD 7.6 billion, will provide 118.9 km of new lines on the network to improve urban mobility in the city.