The Chennai Metro corridor linking Poonamallee, Porur and Vadapalani is scheduled to open for public use on October 11, according to a statement by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reported by Dinamalar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the corridor, which has been awaited by residents along one of Chennai’s busiest westward growth routes.
Stalin said the corridor was part of Chennai Metro’s second phase and that the state government had attempted to complete it by the end of 2025. According to his statement, the target could not be met because approval for the signalling system was delayed by the Railway Board. The subsequent enforcement of the election Model Code of Conduct also prevented the state government from opening the corridor during its term, he said.
The scheduled opening places a major piece of transport infrastructure on the city’s western side into public service. The corridor will connect Poonamallee and Porur with Vadapalani, where commuters can access the existing Chennai Metro network. The route is expected to improve connectivity between expanding residential areas in west Chennai and established employment, commercial and transport destinations closer to the city’s core.
Stalin said the Chennai Metro project was initiated during the tenure of former chief minister M. Karunanidhi, when he was serving as deputy chief minister. He also said that he had inspected work on the second phase at various stages. His statement presented the new corridor as part of a broader infrastructure expansion undertaken by successive Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam governments.
The reference to signalling approval highlights the role of railway and safety clearances in determining when a completed or substantially completed metro corridor can begin passenger operations. Construction progress alone does not establish that a line is ready for public service; signalling and related operational approvals are necessary before trains can run with passengers. In this case, Stalin attributed the earlier delay specifically to the Railway Board’s approval process.
The corridor’s opening will also test how the new line is integrated with Chennai’s existing metro operations. Its practical impact will depend on the commencement of passenger services, station access, train frequency, interchange arrangements and the ability of commuters from Poonamallee and Porur to use the network for regular journeys. The statement did not provide details of fares, service frequency or the exact operational schedule.
Stalin described the upcoming opening as a moment of satisfaction after the corridor’s prolonged construction and approval process. He also said that the infrastructure visible across Chennai and other districts reflected the contribution of DMK governments to the development of a modern Tamil Nadu. The next formal milestone is the scheduled inauguration and commencement of public use on October 11.
