Chennai Metro: CMRL To Begin Track Laying Work On Poonamallee-Porur Stretch In July

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is set to begin track-laying on the Poonamallee-Porur stretch which is part of metro Phase II in two months.

The expansion of Metro Phase II is planned with a network length of 118.9 km with 128 stations. It consists of three corridors, namely Corridor-3, from Madhavaram to SIPCOT (45.8 km), Corridor-4, from Lighthouse to Poonamalle Bypass (26.1 km), Corridor-5, from Madhavaram at Sholinganallur (47 km).

The estimated cost of the project is‌‌ Rs 63,246 crore. 

Officials from CMRL stated that they are pressuring the contractor to speed up construction and begin the track work immediately since they intend to begin operating trains between Poonamallee and Porur before the end of 2025.

“The track laying will begin in July and we are hoping to finish it in a year’s time. Each day, the contractor should be able to lay about 80 metres of track. The preparation work and material will be loaded in the site by the end of June,” an official said, reports The Hindu.

Although the viaduct project has been progressing smoothly, the two stations being built along this section may be delayed due to certain restrictions.

The contractor had mentioned a few problems and delays in completing two stations on schedule, but after discussions, the problem has been rectified. By the end of 2025, we should be able to open all stations, the official continued.

Initially, CMRL planned to run train services from Poonamallee all the way to Power House, but the construction project between Porur and Power House has been delayed by at least six months.

The construction work on Madhavaram-Taramani corridor of the Chennai Metro has also been delayed by almost one and a half years. The stretch is not expected to be completed until 2028.