Phase 2 of the Chennai Metro Rail project has been reported as completed, spanning a total distance of 20 km across various areas of the city and its outskirts, and linking at least 25 neighbourhoods.
It was noted that construction on the project had commenced three and a half years prior. The project comprises both the upline and downline sections of the corridors, with a stretch of 10 km above ground and 10.77 km underground.
In Phase 2, there are three corridors covering a total of 116.1 km, incorporating 118 stations, with one segment extending underground for 42.6 km, serving 45 stations.
A Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) official mentioned that the lines were being installed incrementally in small sections. The official was quoted as saying that construction of approximately 47 stations was in progress. Various stages of work, including entry/exit installations at certain stations and construction of substructure or superstructure at others, were reported.
Moreover, elevated viaducts and underground tunnels have facilitated connectivity among several areas including Manapakkam, Mugalivakkam, Ramapuram, Kovilambakkam, Perumbakkam, Porur, Thelliagaram, Iyyappanthangal, Kattupakkam, Poonamallee, Alapakkam, Shastri Nagar, Retteri, PTC Colony, Okkiyampet, Karapakkam, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, Vadapalani, Madhavaram, and Venugopal Nagar.
The massive project, costing Rs 618.43 billion, saw its construction begin on November 21, 2020. M A Siddique, CMRL?s Managing Director (MD), had previously indicated that Phase 2 would be completed gradually between 2026 and 2028.
The section connecting Porur and Poonamallee is anticipated to be operational first, potentially before the conclusion of 2025. Furthermore, the Thirumayilai metro, serving as an interchange between corridors 3 and 4, along with nearby stations, is projected to open last, in 2028.
To expedite construction and ensure that progress on one corridor did not impede due to delays in another, CMRL divided the work on the three corridors into smaller segments and awarded construction contracts for each segment.
