Chennai Metro: Information, Route Maps & Project Updates
AN OVERVIEW
Chennai Metro is an urban Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) being built to serve Chennai – Tamil Nadu’s capital by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL).
Construction on Chennai Metro’s Phase 1 with 45.1 km of routes commenced in April 2009, with the first section of the Blue Line (Line-1) between Koyambedu – Alandur opening in June 2015. Further sections opened up one after the other between 2015-2019, with the final section connecting AG-DMS with Washermenpet opening in February 2019.
A 9.051 km extension of the Blue line (Line-1) as part of the Phase 1 Extension Project connecting Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar through 8 stations, is expected to open for commercial operations by 2020-end.
Chennai Metro’s 118.9 km Phase 2 project comprising of 3 new lines was approved by the Tamil Nadu government in 2019 at an estimated cost of Rs. 69,180 crores. The Central Government’s approval is still pending.
Out of 118.9 km, 52.01 km of Line-3 between Madhavaram – Sholinganallur and Line-5’s Madhavaram – CMBT will be built on priority. Tendering for this mostly underground phase began in January 2020 and is expected to open in phases from 2026 onwards.
Chennai Metro is a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) being built to ease the travel.
Chennai Metro Phase-I constructed in 2019 with a distance of 45.1 km blue line.
With three lines of Phase-II, 118.9 km approved by the Govt of Tamil Nadu with estimated cost 69180 cr.
System Specifications
- Top Speed: 80 kmph
- Average Speed: 33 kmph
- Track Gauge: Standard Gauge – 1435 mm
- Electrification: 25 kV, 50 Hz AC overhead catenary (OHE)
- Signalling: Communication-based Train Control (CBTC)
Key Figures
Operational: 54.15 km | Under Construction: 0 km | Approved: 118.90 km | Proposed: 15.3 km
- Daily Ridership: 1.15 lakh/day (February 2020)
- Rolling Stock: 208 coaches (52 train-sets x 4) supplied by Alstom
Operational Line of Phase-I (Line Blue & Green)
- Blue Line – (Washermanpet – Chennai International Airport) – 23.10 (17 Stations)
- GreenLine – (Chennai Central – St Thomas Mount) – 22 km (17 Stations)
- Under construction section of Phase-I extension
Blue Line – (Washermanpet – Wimco Nagar) 9.051 km, 8 stations
Approved Lines (Phase 2)
- Line-3 (Purple Line): Madhavaram – SIPCOT 2 (45.813 km, 49 stations)
- Line-4 (Orange Line): Light House – Poonamallee Bus Depot (26.1 km, 30 stations)
- Line-5 (Red Line): Madhavaram – Sholinganallur (47 km, 48 stations)
Note: official line colors for lines 3-5 have not been announced.
Under-construction Lines (Phase 2 & 2A): 91.44 km
- Purple Line (Mysore Road – Whitefield) – 24.31 km (19 Stations)
- GreenLine (Yelachenahalli – BIEC) – 10.06 km (8 Stations)
- Yellow Line (R V Road – Bommasandra) – 18.82 km (16 Stations)
- Pink Line (Gottigere – Bangalore Airport) – 21.25 km (18 Stations)
- Blue Line ORR Metro (Central Silk Board – K. R. Pura) – 17 km (13 Stations)
Phase-II Proposed Lines
- Purple Line – (Taramani Road Junction – SIPCOT) 19.64 km, 20 stations
- Orange Line – (LightHouse – CMBT) 26.1 km, 31 stations
- Red Line – (CMBT – Sholinganallur) 21.7 km, 28 stations
Proposed Lines (Misc)
- Line-1 – Blue Line: Airport – Kilambakkam (15.3 km, 14 stations)
Note: Feasibility report for extension was completed in 2019 by Larsen and Toubro Infrastructure Engineering. Detailed Project Report (DPR) expected to be ready by 2020-end. This line may be included in Phase 2 plans.
Likely Station Names: Arumalai Chavadi, Pallavaram, Kothandam Nagar, Chrompet, Mahalakshmi Nagar, Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, Tambaram, Irumbuliyar, Peerkankaranai, Perungalathur, RMK Nagar, Vandalur, Anna Zoological Park, Kilambakkam
Fares (Ticket Prices)
Fares on the Chennai Metro are calculated based on distance travelled and dependent on type – token (single journey) and smart card available with a refundable deposit of Rs. 50 – best for multiple journeys with flat 10% savings. Users can load amounts in multiples of Rs. 50 up to a maximum of Rs. 3000. The card must always maintain a balance of Rs. 10 and the card is valid for 5 years from the time of purchase or recharge, whichever is later.
Chennai Metro doesn’t offer a simple online fare calculator.
History – Key Dates
Phase 1
- 29 Jun 2015: Koyambedu – Alandur (Green line) – 10 km
- 21 Sept 2016: Airport – Little Mount (Blue Line) – 8.6 km
- 15 Oct 2016: Alandur – St. Thomas Mount (Green line) – 1.3 km
- 14 May 2017: Koyambedu – Nehru Park (Green line) – 8 km
- 25 May 2017: Little Mount – AG-DMS (Blue Line) – 4.8 km
- 25 May 2018: Nehru Park – Central (Green line) – 2.6 km
- 10 Feb 2019: AG-DMS – Washermenpet (Blue Line) – 9.8 km
Phase 2
- 14 Feb 2021: Washermenpet – Wimco Nagar (Blue Line) – 9.05 km
CONTRACT AWARDED
- Soma Enterprise – Rs 199.2 cr – viaduct along the Inner Ring Road
- A consortium led by Egis Rail SA, France – $30 million – general consultancy contract
- L&T – ₹314.43 crore – Elevated viaducts
- Consolidated Construction Consortium Limited – Elevated stations of the first phase
- Alstom – Rs 1,471.3 cr – Supplying rolling stock
- L&T – construct a depot at Koyambedu
- JV of L&T and Alstom – Rs 449.22 cr – design & construction of track
- JV of Johnson Lifts & SJEC Corporation – Rs 198 cr – supply of lifts and escalators
- Siemens – Rs 305 cr – power supply and overhead electrification
