Chennai: The first stretch of Chennai Metro Phase 2 is now open to the public. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay flagged off the first train on Sunday, 11 October 2026. The new line runs from Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani on the western side of the city. It is about 15 km long and has 11 stations, all built above the road. Passenger trains started the same evening at 4 pm. From Monday, 12 October, trains run every day from 7 am to 9 pm.
For people in Poonamallee and Porur, who face heavy traffic every day, this is big news. Here is a simple guide to the stations, fares, timings and what is still pending.
Table of Contents
Chennai Metro Phase 2: the 11 new stations
The new stretch is part of Corridor 4 of Phase 2. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) calls it the Yellow Line. The 11 stations, from west to east, are:
- Poonamallee Bypass
- Poonamallee Bus Stand
- Poonamallee Government Hospital
- Karayanchavadi
- Kumananchavadi
- Kattupakkam
- Iyyappanthangal
- Thelliyaragaram
- Porur Bypass
- Porur Junction
- Vadapalani
Six more stations between Porur Junction and Vadapalani are still being built. They are Alapakkam, Karambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Saligramam Warehouse and Saligramam. Until they are ready, trains will run straight from Porur Junction to Vadapalani without stopping in between, The Hindu reported. It said this work may take a few more months.
How much will a ticket cost?
There is no new fare chart. The old Chennai Metro fares of Rs 10 to Rs 50 will continue, The Hindu reported, citing CMRL. Some sample fares:
- Poonamallee to Vadapalani: Rs 40 for a one way trip.
- Poonamallee to Porur, or Porur to Vadapalani: Rs 30.
- Longer trips that need a change to the older lines, such as Poonamallee to the airport or to Wimco Nagar: Rs 50 at the most.
You can also save money. Most ticket types get a 20 per cent discount. This covers QR tickets bought on a phone and the National Common Mobility Card, a single card that works for many kinds of travel. The only ticket without the discount is the paper QR ticket bought at the station counter.
Train timings and how often trains come
These timings come from the CMRL press release of 10 October 2026:
- Every day, trains run from 7 am to 9 pm in both directions.
- The last train leaves both Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani at 9 pm.
- Monday to Saturday, from 8 am to 11 am and from 5 pm to 8 pm, a train comes every 10 minutes.
- At all other times, a train comes every 15 minutes.
- On Sundays and holidays, a train comes every 15 minutes all day.
These hours are shorter than on the older lines. On Phase 1, the first train starts at 5 am and the last one leaves at 11 pm. According to The Hindu, sources said the shorter hours on the new line are meant to let workers build the remaining six stations at night.
What is special about this line?
The Press Information Bureau (PIB), the government’s news office, said the line cost about Rs 4,900 crore. Its main features are:
- Double decker section: For 3.7 km, the structure has two levels, one above the other.
- Smart signals: The line uses a modern signal system that can support trains without drivers in the future.
- Platform screen doors: Glass doors on the platform open only when a train stops, to keep passengers safe. Phase 1 elevated stations do not have them.
- Easy change at Vadapalani: An L shaped skywalk links the new station with the old Vadapalani station. From there, you can change to the Blue Line, which goes to Wimco Nagar and the airport, or the Green Line, which goes to Chennai Central and St. Thomas Mount.
So a person from Porur can now reach Chennai Central or the airport with one change at Vadapalani.
What passengers said on day one
Crowds filled the trains on the first evening. A student of Saveetha University told The New Indian Express that her bus ride to Vadapalani used to take over an hour. By metro, it now takes 25 to 30 minutes. A carpenter from Iyyappanthangal said his 45 minute trip through traffic now takes about 20 minutes.
But riders also raised some problems:
- Each train has only three coaches, and they were packed, The New Indian Express reported.
- There is no separate coach for women. A space for women was watched by a Pink Squad policewoman only up to Porur. A metro official said the issue would be looked into.
- Some riders want trains to start at 6 am and run till 11 pm, DT Next reported.
- Commuters told The Hindu that trains every 6 to 7 minutes were first promised at peak hours, not every 10 minutes.
The bigger picture
The metro line was one of many projects worth more than Rs 13,000 crore launched that day. PIB said these included national highway projects worth about Rs 3,700 crore, railway works worth over Rs 750 crore, and five redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The PM also laid the foundation stone for a Rs 1,620 crore plant at the CPCL refinery in Manali that will make base oil for lubricants.
Speaking at IIT Madras, Mr. Modi said metro trains ran in only 5 Indian cities in 2014 and now run in 25. He said the network has grown from about 250 km to more than 1,100 km. Mr. Vijay asked the Centre to approve about 65 km of Phase 3. This would cover Airport to Kilambakkam, Poonamallee to Sriperumbudur, and Koyambedu to Pattabiram, The Indian Express reported.
Want to know more about the state? Read our guide to Tamil Nadu’s history, geography and economy. You can also see how metro rail fits into the wider picture of transport in India.
Short FAQ
Is Chennai Metro Phase 2 fully open now?
No. Only the Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani stretch is open. Phase 2 is planned to be 118.9 km long. Corridor 3 (Madhavaram to SIPCOT) and Corridor 5 (Madhavaram to Sholinganallur) are still being built.
Is there a discount on the new line?
Yes. The Hindu reported that the present fare system continues, with 20 per cent off every ticket except the paper QR ticket. Check the CMRL app before you travel.
Before his visit to IIT Madras, the PM also prayed at the Jalakandeswarar temple. If you enjoy temple trips, see our list of famous Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu.
Sources
- Chennai Metro Rail Limited, Press Release No. 66/2026 on Phase 2 Corridor 4 passenger service, 10 October 2026
- Press Information Bureau (Prime Minister’s Office), PM to lay foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate development projects worth over Rs 13,000 crore in Chennai, 10 October 2026
- Prime Minister’s Office, PM lays the foundation stone, inaugurates and dedicates development projects worth over Rs 13,000 crore in Chennai, 11 October 2026
- The Hindu, PM Modi and CM Vijay flag off Chennai Metro Rail’s first train for phase II project, 11 October 2026
- The Hindu, Chennai Metro Rail phase II ticket fares to remain unchanged; trip from Poonamallee to Vadapalani to cost Rs 40
- The Hindu, Commuters seek better frequency, timings of new services, October 2026
- The Indian Express, PM launches Rs 13,000 crore projects; CM Vijay says strong states make strong India, 11 October 2026
- The New Indian Express, Chennai metro Yellow Line instant hit, but just 3 coaches in each train a concern, 12 October 2026
- DT Next, Chennai’s new Metro line cuts travel time, commuters seek longer hours, better parking, October 2026