Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first stretch of Chennai Metro Rail’s Phase 2 network on Sunday (October 11) and share a metro ride with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, marking
the launch of a key urban transport project in the state.
The first operational stretch will cover 15 km between Poonamallee and Vadapalani. However, PM Modi and Vijay are scheduled to travel from Poonamallee to Porur Bypass during the inaugural journey.
The flag-off is scheduled for around 11.30 am. The Phase 2 project, along with several other projects, will subsequently be inaugurated at IIT Madras around 2 pm. Passenger services on the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch will begin only after the event concludes at around 4 pm.
Chennai Metro Phase 2: Train Timings And Frequency
Initially, services on the new stretch will operate from 7 am to 9 pm, compared with the 5 am to 11 pm schedule followed on the Phase 1 network.
Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will initially operate 15 trains on the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch. During peak hours, commuters can expect a train every 10 minutes, while services will run every 15 minutes during non-peak hours.
Peak-hour services will operate between 8 am and 11 am and between 5 pm and 8 pm. Non-peak hours will cover 7 am to 8 am, 11 am to 5 pm, and 8 pm to 9 pm.
The restricted operating hours are intended to facilitate construction work at six stations between Porur Junction and Vadapalani: Alapakkam, Karambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Saligramam Warehouse and Saligramam. Train frequency is expected to improve once the civil works at these stations are completed.
Chennai Metro Phase 2 Project: Timeline
Work on the 118.9-km Phase 2 network began nearly six years ago. In January 2019, the Tamil Nadu government granted in-principle approval for the project. In November 2020, Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone, and piling work on the elevated Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch along Arcot Road began in July 2021.
In October 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the Chennai Metro Phase 2 project, while the first driverless train arrived at the Poonamallee depot. CMRL completed the viaduct between Poonamallee and Porur in March 2025, followed by trial runs on the stretch in April 2025.
In December 2025, the Railway Board approved the signalling system for operations. A trial run was conducted from Porur Junction to Vadapalani in January 2026. The Commissioner of Railway Safety inspected the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch in February 2026 and granted conditional approval, before giving final authorisation for operations in May 2026.
