Chennai Metro News & Updates

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a new US$240 million loan to advance the expansion of the Chennai Metro network, bolstering efforts to provide cleaner, safer, and more reliable public transport in the Chennai Metropolitan Region. This latest approval is part of ADB's US$780 million multi-tranche financing facility for the project, approved in 2022. It follows an earlier loan of US$350 million issued under the first tranche.

Chennai Metro Rail has issued bids to purchase 28 six-coach trains for the 54-kilometer Phase I and Phase I extension networks to meet the needs of growing passenger traffic. These six-coach trains will be able to carry approximately 1,500 passengers per trip, while the current trains have a capacity of approximately 1,000 passengers.

The central government rejected Tamil Nadu's proposals for metro rail projects in Madurai and Coimbatore. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) cited population norms under the Metro Rail Policy 2017. Government sources said the policy allows metro systems only in cities with a population of over 2 million. According to the 2011 census, the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation had a population of 15.84 lakh, while the local planning authority area had a population of 23.5 lakh. In Madurai, the municipal corporation had a population of 10.20 lakh and the urban area had a population of 14.7 lakh.

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is set to provide over 3 million square feet of office and commercial space upon completion of the Phase II project in three years. According to CMRL officials, they have planned property development at at least 25 of the 128 stations along the 118.9-kilometer Phase II network. While towering towers will be built at Chennai Central, Mandaveli, Thousand Lights, and Thirumangalam metro stations, CMRL will also construct additional floors for use as office space or for setting up retail shops at several stations, including Perungudi, Sholinganallur, Karapakkam, Thoraipakkam, Madhavaram High Road, Sembium, Ayanavaram, Otteri, Perambur Barrack Road, Purasawalkam, Chetpet, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam, Royapettah, Adyar Depot, and Thirumayilai.

Residents of Tiruvottiyur and Ernavoor staged a sit-in on Sunday, demanding extension of the Airport-Wimco Nagar Metro line to Ennore and Madhavaram, increasing the frequency of EMU services on the Chennai Central-Gummidipoondi suburban section and completion of the long-delayed Wimco Nagar Metro project. Addressing the protest organised by the CPM Tiruvottiyur North unit, CITU State vice-president A Soundararajan said many of the demands raised by the residents were nearly three decades old.

In a major effort to improve last-mile connectivity from the Chennai Metro, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) plans to introduce 220 air-conditioned electric microbuses by July 2026. These buses will operate every five minutes, covering a 5-kilometer radius from metro stations, to enhance accessibility and increase ridership.

Fivele Transport Rail Technologies India Private Limited and Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) have signed a contract agreement for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of an anti-drag feature in all saloon doors of the 52 trains of CMRL Phase-1.

The Chennai Metro Rail completed construction of another tunnel in Corridor 3 of the Phase 2 project, connecting Greenways Road to Mandaveli on Saturday (October 18, 2025). Earlier, the Chennai Metro Rail had completed construction of a tunnel in Corridor 3, connecting Royapettah to Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will carry out rail grinding maintenance work on the Green Line and Blue Line on selected days from September 9 to October 19, 2025. The work will be carried out between 5:00 am and 6:30 am. During this time, trains will run every 14 minutes instead of the usual 7 minutes. After 6:30 am, normal services will continue without any change.

The Tamil Nadu government has approved preliminary works worth Rs 2,442 crore for the proposed 21.76 km metro rail line between Koyambedu and Pattabiram. The approval mainly covers land acquisition at an estimated cost of Rs 2,204 crore, as well as preliminary activities such as shifting utilities, surveying, planting trees and traffic diversion management. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has been allowed to start preliminary planning, including route mapping and diversion strategies, in anticipation of central approval.

The Tamil Nadu government has given administrative approval to start preliminary work on the 21.76 km long Koyambedu-Avadi-Pattabiram corridor of the Chennai Metro Rail. This means that the Chennai Metro Rail can start work related to land acquisition, shifting of utilities and other aspects.

The central government has released funds of over ₹8,000 crore for the construction of the upcoming Phase II project of the Chennai Metro Rail. This year, the central government has so far allocated ₹3,000 crore for the project. Funds worth Rs 63,246 crore for the Phase II project have been raised from the Centre, state and bilateral and multilateral loans. Chennai Metro Rail Limited plans to inaugurate the first elevated section of Corridor 4, connecting Poonamallee to Porur, by December 2025.

For the first time, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) achieved a major milestone by crossing the one crore passengers mark in a single month in July 2025, with the passenger count reaching a record high of 1,03,78,835.

Passengers using the Chennai Metro will not be able to recharge their old smart cards from August 1, as the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is moving to a new system. From next month, only the Singara Chennai Card—based on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) format—will be accepted for top-ups at all 41 metro stations. Existing metro cards will remain valid till the balance in them is fully spent. However, as soon as the value of the card goes below ₹50, passengers will have to surrender the card at any metro ticket counter.

After 14 months underground, Chennai Metro Rail's tunnel boring machine (TBM) 'Peacock' achieved success at Kodambakkam on Wednesday (July 23, 2025), successfully constructing a two-kilometre-long tunnel between Panagal Park and Kodambakkam as part of the upcoming Phase II project.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has announced that it will fully adopt the Singara Chennai Card, a national common mobility card (NCMC), from August 1, 2025. This integrated smart card system is expected to streamline travel not only in the metro network but eventually in buses, toll booths and other transit systems as well. CMRL clarified that QR code-based ticketing and other digital options will continue as usual, providing convenience to occasional metro users and tourists.

Chennai Metro Rail will soon start construction of a multi-storey building on the Arumbakkam Metro Rail Station premises. In the 54 km long Phase I and Phase II expansion network and the upcoming Phase II project, Chennai Metro Rail is focusing on building high-rise buildings based on the land available near the stations.

Construction has begun on the re aligned section of Chennai Metro’s Corridor 5 between Madhavaram and Sholinganallur, close to Koyambedu. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) redesigned this stretch to shorten the build programme, minimise land acquisition and better reflect current travel patterns long distance buses moved from the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus to Kilambakkam.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has commenced construction on the reconfigured Metro corridor alignment near Koyambedu, implementing a strategic redesign finalised last year. The long-anticipated adjustment promises to enhance operational efficiency, minimise land acquisition, and support broader urban mobility objectives as part of Phase II’s Corridor 5 development.

Cehnnai Metro Completed our 10 years, on June 29, 2015, a new chapter in urban mobility began for Chennai when the first metro train between Alandur and Koyambedu was flagged off by then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. So far, over 35 crore passengers have travelled on it. This number will significantly increase once Phase II is completed, which is expected in 2027.