Chennai is on the cusp of a transformative leap in its public transport infrastructure as the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) prepares to commence driverless train testing on the Porur to Poonamallee stretch by the end of April.
The upcoming trials are a significant milestone under Phase II of the city’s metro expansion and signal the transition to a more automated, efficient, and environmentally sustainable urban transit system. This segment forms part of Corridor 4, which is being developed as part of the larger 118.9-kilometre Phase II network. The Porur to Poonamallee stretch is a vital western suburban link and includes 10 strategically located stations: Poonamallee Bypass, Poonamallee, Mullaithottam, Karayanchavadi, Kumananchavadi, Kattupakkam, Iyyappanthangal, Thelliyaragaram, Porur Bypass, and Porur Junction.
A noteworthy engineering challenge along this route is the sharpest track curve in all of Phase II — a 127.55-metre radius bend at Porur. This curve is closely followed by similar high-precision track geometries at Koyambedu and Alandur. CMRL officials confirmed that while these sharp curves test the agility and safety of automated rolling stock, all alignments adhere strictly to the metro’s minimum curve radius of 120 metres, ensuring compliance with international urban rail safety standards. Corridor 5, which spans from Madhavaram in North Chennai to Sholinganallur in the south-east, is notable for hosting the highest number of curves across the network. This complexity has made it a focal point for the integration of smart systems, adaptive controls, and real-time AI-assisted navigation, especially as driverless train technology becomes operational.
Officials associated with the project said the driverless trains will undergo stringent tests over the coming weeks, covering system reliability, precision alignment, emergency stops, and platform synchronisation. These tests will not only demonstrate the operational maturity of the Chennai Metro’s advanced signalling and communication systems but also benchmark India’s capacity for intelligent urban mobility solutions. Once fully operational, the driverless system is expected to significantly reduce human error, lower operational costs, and provide high-frequency, round-the-clock service — all while shrinking the city’s carbon footprint. For a densely growing metropolitan like Chennai, where traffic congestion and emissions are growing concerns, the rollout of an automated metro network stands as a pivotal intervention.
The Porur-Poonamallee stretch also connects key residential and commercial clusters, and its upcoming functionality is likely to accelerate demand for transit-oriented development (TOD) along the corridor. Urban planning experts have noted that such seamless, tech-enabled connectivity will help reduce the city’s dependence on personal vehicles, thereby supporting goals of net-zero emissions and inclusive city design. According to metro engineers, special attention is being given to track resilience, gradient management, and station accessibility. Energy efficiency and regenerative braking systems are also embedded in the metro’s design, aligning with CMRL’s wider green mobility mission. With energy costs rising and climate resilience becoming a central concern, these technological upgrades position Chennai as a frontrunner in sustainable metro transport.
The trials are being viewed as a precursor to broader automation across Chennai’s metro corridors, with long-term plans to deploy driverless trains on select lines of Corridors 3, 4, and 5. Authorities have also confirmed that safety systems, including obstacle detection, fail-safe braking, and control redundancy, will be stress-tested under varying conditions, including on sharp turns such as those at Porur. The success of these trials could make Chennai only the second Indian city after Delhi to fully embrace driverless metro operations. While Delhi Metro began partial automated operations on the Magenta and Pink lines, Chennai’s pilot run marks the first such initiative in southern India and underscores Tamil Nadu’s emerging status as a leader in green infrastructure.
As Chennai prepares to welcome this new age of metro mobility, commuters, city planners, and sustainability advocates alike are watching closely. The outcome could well shape the future blueprint for urban transit systems across India — blending safety, innovation, and environmental stewardship in equal measure.
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