Chennai Metro’s new Yellow Line carried 25,474 passengers in its first five hours of commercial service on Sunday, signalling strong early demand for the 14.64-km connection between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani.
The elevated stretch, part of Corridor 4 of Chennai Metro Rail’s Phase II, began passenger operations at 4 pm on Sunday after being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It links western suburban neighbourhoods including Porur, Kattupakkam and Iyyappanthangal with Vadapalani, where passengers can interchange with the existing Phase I network.
The first-day ridership was recorded on the Poonamallee Bypass–Vadapalani stretch despite the limited operating window. The line has 11 stations, although the stations located between Porur and Vadapalani are not yet operational, according to a report by DT Next.
Regular services on the stretch began at 7 am on Monday. Trains will operate until 9 pm, with a frequency of 10 minutes during peak periods from 8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm, Monday to Saturday. During non-peak hours, trains will run every 15 minutes. On Sundays and public holidays, the service will operate at 15-minute intervals throughout the day.
The corridor was built at an estimated cost of Rs 4,900 crore and is intended to provide an alternative to road travel across Chennai’s western suburbs, where commuters regularly face congestion. Its connection with the existing network at Vadapalani allows passengers to continue towards other parts of the city without relying on a separate road journey for the entire trip.
The line has been designed for unattended train operation, but trains will initially have two operators on board. Full driverless operations are expected by mid-2027, after testing and safety certification are completed.
The staged approach means the corridor’s immediate expansion is not limited to opening day ridership. Passenger access will also depend on the operationalisation of the remaining stations and the completion of the safety and certification process required before driverless services can begin. For now, the line’s service schedule and interchange at Vadapalani define its initial role within Chennai’s expanding metro network.
