Chennai MRTS Velachery–St Thomas Mount Line Opening on March 10 Faces Delay; Direct Beach Route to Start Later

Commuters in Chennai hoping to use the long-awaited direct MRTS train between Chennai Beach and St Thomas Mount will have to wait a little longer. The planned inauguration of the Velachery-St Thomas Mount extension on March 10, 2026, has been delayed as the final operational clearance for the line has not yet been issued.

The extension was expected to open this week to improve connectivity across the city and help passengers affected by recent changes in suburban train services. However, railway officials say services cannot begin until the mandatory safety certification is granted.

Why the MRTS extension has been delayed

The delay is linked to the final approval required from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS). Although a detailed inspection of the line has already been conducted, the safety certificate needed to start operations is still pending.

During an inspection carried out on March 5, a team led by Janak Kumar Garg from Delhi examined the newly built track and infrastructure. Officials tested the line by operating a train along the route and also conducted trolley inspections to assess track alignment and overall safety conditions.

Sources familiar with the process said the inspection team recommended that certain additional works be completed before passenger services are allowed to begin.

Railway authorities have indicated that trains will start running only after these recommendations are addressed and the CRS issues formal approval.

What the Velachery-St Thomas Mount extension will offer

The new elevated MRTS link stretches roughly 4.5 to 5 kilometres and has been built at a cost of about ₹734 crore. Once operational, the line will extend the existing Chennai Beach-Velachery corridor to St Thomas Mount railway station, creating a key interchange with both suburban rail services and Chennai Metro Rail.

Two new stations-Adambakkam and Puzhuthivakkam-have been added along the extension. The project is expected to improve travel options across north-south and east-west routes in Chennai by connecting multiple rail-based transport systems.

Once services begin, passengers will be able to travel directly from Chennai Beach railway station to St Thomas Mount without changing trains, significantly improving connectivity for daily commuters.

Safety checks before operations begin

Before granting operational clearance, the CRS must verify several technical aspects of the corridor. These include track alignment, oscillation performance of trains, signalling systems, electrification infrastructure such as overhead equipment, and passenger safety features at stations.

Station facilities like lighting, platform signage, and emergency exit systems also form part of the final inspection process.

Railway officials said most construction and technical work on the elevated stretch has already been completed. By late 2025, tasks such as overhead electrification, load testing and finishing works had been finalised.

Multiple trial runs have also been conducted on the route using diesel-powered freight trains to test track performance and infrastructure stability.

A project delayed for nearly two decades

The Velachery-St Thomas Mount MRTS extension was originally announced around 2007-2008 to strengthen integration between Chennai's suburban rail, MRTS and Metro networks. However, the project faced repeated delays due to land acquisition challenges and later coordination issues during construction of Chennai Metro Phase II structures above parts of the alignment.

Despite the latest delay, railway officials say the extension is now close to completion and will become operational soon after the remaining safety requirements are cleared.

For commuters across Chennai, the new line is expected to provide a long-awaited direct connection across the city's expanding rail network once services finally begin.