Chennai Metro: When Will Poonamallee–Porur Stretch Open to The Public?

Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) is gearing up for a major milestone in its Phase II expansion, with the Poonamallee-Porur stretch on Corridor 4 is getting ready for commercial operations.

When Will It Open?

Well, it is scheduled to open for commercial operations by December 2025. This 8-km elevated section will be the first portion of Phase II to go live and will run with six-coach trains.

Stations on the Poonamallee-Porur Stretch

The west-to-east alignment covers 10 elevated stations, beginning at the Poonamallee Bypass end and moving towards Porur:

Poonamallee Bypass

Poonamallee

Mullaithottam

Karayanchavadi

Kumananchavadi

Kattupakkam

Iyyappanthangal

Thelliyaragaram

Porur Bypass

Porur Junction

This segment forms part of the 26.1-km Corridor 4 that connects Poonamallee with Lighthouse, featuring a mix of elevated and underground sections.

Next Phase: Operations Till Kodambakkam by June 2026

Six months after the initial launch, CMRL plans to extend services further east, with trains running between Porur and Kodambakkam Power House by June 2026.

Trial runs are already in progress on the Poonamallee-Porur section. The recently completed final U-girder casting at the Voyalanallur yard marks a key construction milestone. In total, 3,410 precast elements-including U-girders, pier caps, pier arms and parapets-were produced using 1.2 lakh cubic metres of concrete and 18,470 tonnes of steel, forming a structure weighing around 2.42 lakh tonnes.

Engineering Highlight: The 4-km Double-Decker Section

A notable feature of this stretch is the 4-km double-decker alignment, where Corridor 4 (Lighthouse-Poonamallee) and Corridor 5 (Madhavaram-Sholinganallur) run one above the other.

The two corridors will share four multi-level stations:

• Alwarthirunagar
• Valasaravakkam
• Karambakkam
• Alapakkam

This is one of the most challenging structures of Phase II, involving multiple logistical and design complexities. In September, CMRL successfully erected a viaduct above the existing Phase I line at Vadapalani using a specially designed extended pier cap.

Phase II Overview: 116 km Across Three Corridors

Chennai Metro Phase II is a massive ₹63,246 crore infrastructure project spanning 116 km (also specified as 118.9 km in some documents) across three corridors:

• Corridor 3: Madhavaram - SIPCOT
• Corridor 4: Lighthouse - Poonamallee
• Corridor 5: Madhavaram - Sholinganallur

The project is designed to enhance Chennai's connectivity, reduce road congestion, and integrate seamlessly with other modes of transport. Phase II is scheduled to open in stages between 2025 and 2028, with full network completion targeted for 2028.

Rolling Stock & Depots

To support the expanded network, CMRL will deploy 138 trains, including 32 driverless trains.
Two major depots are coming up at:

• Madhavaram
• Poonamallee

These will handle operations, stabling, and maintenance for Phase II corridors.

Launch Timeline Summary

Dec 2025: Poonamallee → Porur commercial operations

June 2026: Extension till Kodambakkam Power House

March 2027: Madhavaram-Sholinganallur corridor opening

2025-2028: Entire Phase II to open in phased manner