PM launches first stretch of Phase-II Chennai Metro Rail project, flags off first train, takes ride with Vijay

Chennai, Oct 11 (UNI) In a major boost to rail connectivity aimed at easing the growing traffic congestion in the city, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 14.64 km long first stretch of the Phase-II of the Chennai Metro Rail Project built at a cost of Rs 4,900 crore in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay.

Mr Modi and Vijay flagged off the first train between the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch of Phase II which featured a distinctive 3.7-km double-decker structure and advanced signalling systems designed to support driverless operations. Later, both Mr Modi and Vijay, purchased tickets at the counter and travelled in the Metro train from Porur bypass station to Poonamallee bypass station, forming part of the first stretch, and back.

During the ride Chennai Metro Rail officials explained the salient features of the project to both the leaders. The Poonamallee-Porur Metro stretch would reduce the travel time to just 20 minutes, while the journey from Porur to Vadapalani would take 18 minutes by metro, saving time. Earlier, Mr Modi and Vijay held simultaneous roadshows accepting the enthusiastic reception accorded by a large number of people, including BJP cadres including women carrying placards, who have lined up on both sides of the road all along the route from airport to Porur Metro Station.

As the vehicle slowed down, a smiling Prime Minister responded by opening the car door, stood outside and greeted them by waving his hands. The Chief Minister followed the Prime Minister in another car, keeping its window fully open and waving enthusiastically to the public. The simultaneous roadshows by the two leaders drew an enthusiastic response from the crowd. The enthusiastic reception continued in the return journey from Porur to the IIT-Madras campus.

The Prime Minister later formally inaugurated the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch of Phase II of the Metro Project, at a public function at the Kendriya Vidyalaya Ground in IIT-Madras campus, where he launched and laid foundation stones for multiple developmental projects worth Rs 13,000 crores. The Phase-II project would reduce daily travel time for commuters and improve connectivity between Chennai's rapidly expanding western suburbs and the city centre, reduce commuting time and provide additional boost to the city's public transport network.

Seven months after getting all regulatory clearances, the first operational stretch of Chennai Metro's Phase-II expansion is all set for launch by the Prime Minister. The 14.64-km Poonamallee-Vadapalani corridor has been completed with 11 elevated stations. The Chennai Metro Rail Corporation has completed the required testing and obtained the necessary approvals following an inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety. The section, part of Corridor-4 or the Yellow Line, runs between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani and is the first segment of the Phase-II network to receive approval for commercial operations. The commissioner of Metro Railway Safety cleared the stretch for operations in February, paving the way for the launch.

The line will eventually form part of a larger east-west metro link connecting the rapidly expanding western suburbs with the rest of Chennai's public transport network. The opening is expected to provide an alternative to the increasingly congested arterial roads in the western part of the city, while also improving connectivity to existing metro services. The stretch forms part of the 26-km Lighthouse-Poonamallee corridor under Phase-II, which is being developed as part of the 118.9-km Phase II project across three corridors. Trial runs, including checks of signalling, track performance, train operations and structural safety, have already been completed.

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