Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch Chennai Metro Phase 2 stretch on Oct 11, 2026

Modi and CM Vijay to flag off Chennai Metro Phase 2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on a ceremonial ride of the new Chennai Metro Rail Phase 2 line on Sunday, Oct 11, 2026. The flag‑off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the Poonamallee Bypass station. After the ceremony the duo will travel eastward to Porur Bypass, marking the first passenger service on the 15‑kilometre Poonamallee‑Vadapalani corridor.

What the new stretch covers

The inaugural segment runs from the western terminus at Poonamallee through Vadapalani, covering key stations such as Alapakkam, Karambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Saligramam Warehouse and Saligramam. Initially, 15 driverless trains will operate on the line, with a headway of ten minutes during the 8 a.m.–11 a.m. and 5 p.m.–8 p.m. peak periods and fifteen minutes at other times. Service hours start at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m., a departure from Phase 1’s 5 a.m.–11 p.m. schedule, to allow night‑time construction at the six stations still being built.

Timeline and background

Work on the 118.9‑km Phase 2 network began in early 2019 after the Tamil Nadu government gave in‑principle approval. Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone in November 2020. Major milestones followed – piling on the elevated stretch started in July 2021, the first driverless train arrived at the Poonamallee depot in Oct 2024, and trial runs were completed by early 2026. The Commissioner of Railway Safety gave conditional clearance in Feb 2026 and final authorisation in May 2026, clearing the way for commercial operations.

Parallel inaugurations

Modi’s itinerary also includes a flag‑off of several infrastructure projects at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, slated for around 2 p.m. on the same day. The combined announcements are reported to involve projects worth roughly ₹13,000 crore across the state, underscoring the central government’s focus on transport and urban development in Tamil Nadu.

What commuters can expect

When the Poonamallee‑Vadapalani stretch opens to the public at about 4 p.m., passengers will be able to board a train every ten minutes in the morning and evening rush, and every fifteen minutes during off‑peak hours. The frequency is expected to improve once civil work on the remaining six stations is finished. The new line will dovetail with the existing Phase 1 network, expanding the metro’s reach into Chennai’s western suburbs and reducing road congestion along the Arcot Road corridor.

Looking ahead

Phase 2 is planned to extend further north and south, eventually linking the city’s airport and new business districts. For now, the Poonamallee‑Vadapalani segment offers a tangible glimpse of a broader vision to make Chennai’s public transport more comprehensive and reliable.