Chennai Metro is a vital part of Chennai’s transportation infrastructure, as it is a huge metropolitan city with a growing demand for fast and efficient transportation. Chennai Metro has made road traffic quick and reliable since its inauguration. In this detailed guide, we will give the latest updates on Chennai Metro, route, map, fares, and ongoing tenders.
Chennai Metro Overview
- Length:
- Operational: 54.15 km
- Under Construction: 102.97 km
- Approved: 15.93 km
- Proposed: 15.3 km
- Stations:
- Operational: 41
- Under Construction: 127
- Proposed: 14
- Lines: 2 – Blue Line, Green Line (operational) 3 – Purple Line, Orange Line, Red Line (Under Construction)
- Track gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
- Speed: 120 km/h (Average speed – 33 km/h)
- Type: Elevated, Underground & at-grade
- Operator: Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL)
- Completion Time: 29 June 2015
About Chennai Metro
The Chennai Metro was launched in 2015, it was built by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to ease the traffic congestion in the city and provide a sustainable way of transporting people. The metro has quickly become the backbone of urban mobility in Chennai with a growing network of lines, connecting both residential and commercial centres.
Construction on Phase 1 of the Chennai Metro began in April 2009 on a 45.1 km stretch. The first section of the Blue Line (Line 1) between Koyambedu-Alandur opened in June 2015. Additional sections opened one at a time between 2015 and 2019, and the final section connecting AG-DMS to Washermanpet opened in February 2019.
Part of the Phase 1 extension project is the 9.051 km Blue Line (Line-1), which connects Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar with 8 stations. It is expected to open for commercial operations by the end of 2020.
The Chennai Metro Phase II project, which is 118.9 km long, includes three new lines, which was approved by the Tamil Nadu government in 2019 at an estimated cost of Rs 69,180 crore. The central government’s approval is still uncertain.
The 52.01 km stretch of Line 3 between Madhavaram-Sholinganallur and Madhavaram-CMBT of Line 5 will be given priority. Bids for the mostly underground phase were floated in January 2020 and the phases should be inaugurated from 2026.
Chennai Metro Route
Operational Lines (Phase 1, Phase 1 Extension)
- Line-1 – Blue Line: Chennai Airport – Wimco Nagar (32.15 km, 25 stations)
- Line-2 – Green Line: Chennai Central – St. Thomas Mount (22 km, 17 stations)
Under Construction Lines (Phase 2)
- Line-3 (Purple Line): Madhavaram – SIPCOT 2 (45.813 km, 49 stations)
- Line-4 (Orange Line): Light House – Poonamallee Bus Depot (26.1 km, 30 stations)
- Line-5 (Red Line): Madhavaram – Sholinganallur (47 km, 48 stations)
Proposed Lines (Misc)
- Line-1 – Blue Line: Airport – Kilambakkam (15.3 km, 14 stations)
Chennai Metro Phase 2
In 2019, the Tamil Nadu government approved the Chennai Metro Phase 2 project, covering three new lines and a distance of 116.1 km, at an estimated cost of Rs 69,180 crore. Since then, the cost has been revised to Rs 61,843 crore by reducing the size of stations. The central government’s approval is still awaited.
RITES prepared the detailed project report (DPR) of Phase 2, which was finalised in December 2018. The 52.01 km stretch of Line-3 between Madhavaram-Sholinganallur and the 52.01 km stretch of Line-5 between Madhavaram-CMBT will be built on priority basis, partly funded by ODA loans.
Bidding for its predominantly underground phase was invited in January 2020.
The second phase of the Chennai Metro is expected to be completed and opened in 2026. Chennai’s metro network will be approximately 173 km long and the second phase will be completed in 2030 (estimated).
Chennai Metro Stations List
Chennai Metro Line-1 Blue Line Stations List
- Line-1 – Blue Line: Chennai Airport – Wimco Nagar
- Wimco Nagar Depot
- Wimco Nagar
- Thiruvottriyur
- Thiruvottriyur Theradi
- Kaladipet
- Tollgate
- New Washermanpet
- Tondiarpet
- Sir Theagaraya College
- Washermanpet
- Mannadi
- High Court
- MGR Central (Chennai Central)
- Government Estate
- LIC
- Thousand Lights
- AG DMS
- Teynampet
- Nandanam
- Saidapet
- Little Mount
- Guindy
- Arignar Anna Alandur
- Nanganallur Road
- Meenambakkam
- Chennai International Airport
Chennai Metro Line-2 Green Line Stations List
- Line-2 – Green Line: Chennai Central – St. Thomas Mount
- Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G.Ramachandran Central
- Egmore
- Nehru Park
- Kilpauk Medical College
- Pachaiyappa’s College
- Shenoy Nagar
- Anna Nagar East
- Anna Nagar Tower
- Thirumangalam
- Koyambedu
- Koyambedu Depot
- Puratchi Thalaivi Dr. J. Jayalalithaa CMBT
- Arumbakkam
- Vadapalani
- Ashok Nagar
- Ekkattuthangal
- Arignar Anna Alandur
- St. Thomas Mount
Chennai Metro Line-3 Purple Line Stations List
- Line 3- Purple Line – Madhavaram Milk Colony – Siruseri SIPCOT 2
- Madhavaram Milk Colony
- Thapalpetti
- Murari Hospital
- Moolakadai
- Sembiyam
- Permabur Market
- Perambur Metro
- Ayanavaram Otteri
- Pattalam
- Perambur Barracks Road
- Doveton Junction
- Purasawalkam High Road
- Kellys, KMC
- Chetpet Metro
- Sterling Road Junction
- Nungambakkam
- Gemini
- Thousand Lights
- Royapettah Govt Hospital
- Radhakrishnan Salai Jn
- Thirumayilai Metro (interchange with Line-4)
- Mandaiveli
- Greenways Road Metro
- Adyar Jn
- Adyar Depo
- Indira Nagar
- Thiruvanmiyur Metro
- Taramani Road Junction
- Nehru Nagar
- Kandanchavadi
- Perungudi
- Thoraipakkam
- Mettukuppam
- PTC Colony
- Okkiyampet
- Karapakkam
- Okkiyam Thoraipakkam
- Sholinganallur (interchange with Line-5)
- Sholinganallur Lake
- Ponniamman Temple
- Sathyabama University
- St Joseph College
- Semmancheri
- Gandhi Nagar
- Navallur
- Siruseri
- SIPCOT 1
- SIPCOT 2
Chennai Metro Line-4 Orange Line Stations List
- Line-4 (Orange Line): Light House – Poonamallee Bus Depot
- Light House
- Kutchery Road
- Thirumayilai Metro
- Alwarpet
- Bharathidasan Road
- Adyar Gate Junction
- Nandanam
- Panagal Park
- Kodambakkam Sub Urban
- Kodambakkam Power House
- Vadapalani
- Saligramam
- Avichi School
- Alwarthirunagar
- Valasaravakkam
- Karambakkam
- Alapakkam
- Porur Junction
- Chennai Bypass Crossing
- Ramachandra Hospital
- Iyyapanthangal Bus Depot
- Kattupakkam
- Kumananchavadi
- Karayanchavadi
- Mullai Thottam
- Poonamalle bus terminus
- Poonamallee Bypass
- Poonamallee Bus Depot
Chennai Metro Line-5 Red Line Stations List
- Line-5 (Red Line): Madhavaram – Sholinganallur
- Madhavaram Milk Colony (interchange with Line-3)
- Venugopal Nagar
- Assissi Nagar
- Manjambakkam
- Velmurugan Nagar
- MMBT
- Shastri Nagar
- Reteeri Junction
- Kolathur Junction
- Srinivasa Nagar
- Villivakkam Metro
- Villivakka
- Bus Terminus
- Nadhamuni
- Anna Nagar Depot
- Thirumangalam
- Kendriya Vidyalaya
- Grain Market
- Sai Nagar Bus Stop
- Elango Nagar Bus Stop
- Alwartiru Nagar
- Valasaravakkam
- Karabakkam
- Alapakkam
- Porur Junction
- Mugalivakkam
- DLF IT SEZ
- Sathya Nagar
- CTC
- Butt Road
- Alandur (interchange with Line-1 and Line-2)
- St Thomas Mount (interchange with Line-2)
- Adambakkam
- Vanuvampet
- Puzhuthivakkam
- Madipakkam
- Kilkattalai
- Echangadu
- Kovilabakkam
- Vellakkal
- Medavakkam Koot Road
- Kamraj Garden Street
- Medavakkam Junction
- Perumbakkam
- Global Hospital
- Elcot
- Sholinganallur
Chennai Metro Time
The Chennai Metro has reduced travel time considerably for commuters. The metro currently operates from 4 am to 11 pm. The frequency of trains is four to five minutes during peak hours and fifteen minutes during lean hours.
Chennai Metro Fares
The fare of Chennai Metro Rail is reasonable as it was made for common people. The minimum fare in Chennai Metro is Rs 10 and the maximum is Rs 50. The fare depends on the distance travelled.
Conclusion
The Chennai Metro has brought a major change in the city’s public transport. It is on its way to becoming one of the most advanced metro systems in India, with expanded routes, improved technology and a focus on sustainability. The Chennai Metro is a combination of speed, convenience and affordability in the daily lives of millions of people.
