Chennai Metro: Why Poonamallee–Porur Stretch Is Not Opening In December?

The highly-anticipated commencement of train services on the Poonamallee-Porur stretch of the Chennai Metro Rail Phase II has been officially delayed, with operations now expected to begin in January, The Hindu reported citing officials from the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL).

The postponement stems from a combination of incomplete station entry/exit points and a holdup in receiving necessary regulatory clearances from central railway authorities.

Critical Approvals Pending

CMRL officials told the English daily that several mandatory approvals are still outstanding, specifically the crucial signalling approval from the Railway Board and the necessary speed certificate from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO). An official noted that the matter has been escalated to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, with the expectation that the approvals and certificate would be released by early December.

Construction Challenges and Completion Targets

While CMRL reports that over 93% of the construction work between Poonamallee and Porur is complete, sources indicate that finishing the remaining station entry/exit structures, particularly at the Karayanchavadi and Kumananchavadi stations, remains a significant challenge, calling it a Herculean task.

In response, a CMRL official stated that a "huge manpower" has been mobilized with the firm commitment to complete all construction by the end of December. Despite the difficulty with the two specific stations, officials assured that at least one entry/exit point at each of those locations would be ready by the year's end. Once construction is finished and the regulatory clearances are secured, CMRL will then coordinate with the central and state governments to finalize the inauguration date.

Project Details and Future Expansion

The Poonamallee-Porur section, which is part of the 26.1-km Corridor 4 (Lighthouse-Poonamallee), encompasses 10 elevated stations: Poonamallee Bypass, Poonamallee, Mullaithottam, Karayanchavadi, Kumananchavadi, Kattupakkam, Iyyappanthangal, Thelliyaragaram, Porur Bypass, and Porur Junction. Trial runs are already in progress on this segment.

CMRL has further outlined plans for the next phase, projecting an extension of services six months after the initial launch. The next stretch, connecting Porur and Kodambakkam Power House, is slated to become operational by June 2026.

The project also features a notable engineering highlight: a 4-km double-decker alignment where Corridor 4 and Corridor 5 (Madhavaram-Sholinganallur) run one above the other, sharing four multi-level stations: Alwarthirunagar, Valasaravakkam, Karambakkam, and Alapakkam.