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The first operational stretch of Chennai Metro Phase 2 is still waiting for an inauguration date, nearly seven months after receiving safety clearance. The 14.64-km section between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani remains closed to passengers as the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) awaits confirmation from the Prime Minister's Office.
Chennai Metro Phase 2: Inauguration Date has not been fixed yet
According to sources, the inauguration was earlier expected by the end of September, but there was no update till September 21. However, Officials now expect it could take place in the first week of October. The inauguration may be held along with other programmes during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Chennai. However, there was no confirmation of his visit to the city as of September 22.
The Poonamallee Bypass-Vadapalani stretch, the first section of Phase 2, has 11 elevated stations and received conditional provisional approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) in February to begin commercial operations. The stretch forms part of Corridor 4, which will eventually cover 26.1 km between Lighthouse and Poonamallee Bypass. Chennai Metro Phase 2 consists of three corridors with a combined length of 118.9 km.
Following the initial safety approval, which included relaxations concerning train speed and service frequency, CMRL completed the required conditions and obtained further clearance in May. The opening had earlier been delayed during the Tamil Nadu Assembly election period, as CMRL had planned a major inauguration with the Prime Minister. In August, officials had also indicated that the Chennai section could potentially be inaugurated along with an Indore Metro corridor through a video conference from New Delhi. However, that plan did not happen.
Indore's 11-km Priority Corridor-2 was instead inaugurated on September 5 by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal, in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. With this addition, Indore's operational Metro network increased to around 17 km.
The delay has left commuters waiting to use the completed Chennai Metro stretch despite it having cleared the required safety process.