Three-and-a-half years after the commencement of construction on the Chennai Metro Rail's Phase-II project, 20 kilometres of the network have now been completed.

This includes a 10.77 km tunnel and a 10 km elevated section, linking at least 25 localities across the city and suburbs.

The extensive 116.1 km Phase-II network, comprising 118 stations, is set to transform urban mobility in Chennai. The project features three corridors namely Corridor 3 (Madhavaram to SIPCOT) and Corridor 4 (Light House to Poonamallee), Corridor 5 spanning from Madhavaram to Retteri.

Localities such as Manapakkam, Mugalivakkam, Ramapuram, Kovilambakkam, Perumbakkam, Porur, Thelliagaram, Iyyappanthangal, Kattupakkam, Poonamallee, Alapakkam, Shastri Nagar, Retteri, PTC Colony, Okkiyampet, Karappakam, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, Vadapalani, Madhavaram and Venugopal Nagar are now connected by both elevated viaducts and underground tunnels.

A Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) official highlighted that construction is being carried out in small parts across different areas to prevent work stalling on any particular stretch. "Construction of around 47 stations is also underway, with various stages of progress on entry/exit work, sub-structure, or superstructure," the official said, reports The Hindu.

Project Timeline

The ambitious Rs 61,843 crore project, which began on 21 November 2020, is expected to be completed in stages between 2026 and 2028.

M A Siddique, Managing Director of CMRL, had earlier stated that the stretch from Porur to Poonamallee might be the first to open by the end of 2025.

The Thirumayilai metro, which will serve as an interchange for corridors 3 and 4, and nearby stations are anticipated to be the last to be commissioned by 2028.

CMRL strategically divided the project into small stretches and awarded construction contracts to expedite progress and mitigate the risk of delays. However, construction is yet to commence in some barricaded areas, such as OMR and Mylapore, due to issues in awarding contracts and legal challenges.

Specific Issues And Delays

On the OMR stretch from Sholinganallur to Siruseri Sipcot, work has stalled due to contract award difficulties. Residents like Satish Galley from Sholinganallur have expressed frustration over the delays, urging CMRL to expedite the commencement of construction.

Similarly, in Mylapore, construction has been delayed due to legal disputes initiated by shopkeepers facing eviction.

These delays have impacted the progress of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) on the Madhavaram-Taramani stretch. TBMs in several locations have either slowed down or finished their work and are awaiting entry into stations. "In stretches like Ayanavaram to Otteri, Ayanavaram to Perambur, and Chetpet to Sterling Road, TBMs are waiting near stations to make breakthroughs," an official explained.

The delay in station construction has also affected the timeline for opening the Madhavaram-Taramani stretch, pushing it back by more than a year.

With ongoing efforts to speed up station construction and resolve contract issues, CMRL remains committed to completing this transformative project, promising enhanced connectivity and improved urban mobility for Chennai's residents in the coming years.