Chennai Metro OTA Station to Get Second Entry by 2026
After nearly a decade of delays, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is moving ahead with plans to build a second entry and exit at the OTA – Nanganallur Road Metro Station.
The new access point is expected to be completed by 2026, significantly easing travel for commuters approaching from the Alandur side. Unlike most stations under Phase I and its extension, the OTA station has long operated with just one access point—on the GST Road side leading to the airport. This forced thousands of daily passengers from Alandur to take circuitous routes to access the station, often adding 10–15 minutes to their commute. The primary hurdle stemmed from land ownership. The land required for the second entry lies within the premises of the Officers Training Academy (OTA), a military institution. For years, negotiations between CMRL and OTA made little headway. However, a breakthrough agreement was reached recently, prompting the renaming of the station in 2023 to OTA – Nanganallur Road, signalling official cooperation.
CMRL has since floated tenders for the new entry. The agency expects to finalise contracts within three months and begin construction shortly after. The upcoming entry will include staircases, escalators, lifts, and a direct link to the concourse and platform—aligning with universal accessibility standards. Local commuters have welcomed the development, calling it long overdue. “I spend an extra 10 minutes every day taking a roundabout route just to reach the station,” said A. Ragavan, a Nanganallur resident. Another commuter, Akila Varadarajan, noted, “This is a good step, but CMRL must also improve last-mile options. Not everyone can afford autos, especially the elderly.”
With the new access point, CMRL aims to bridge a long-standing mobility gap in one of the city’s key suburban nodes.
