Labour Crunch Puts Chennai Metro’s Porur–Poonamallee Line On Edge Ahead Of December Deadline: Report

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is racing against time to operationalise the 9.5 km elevated Corridor 4 stretch between Porur Junction and Poonamallee Bypass by December 2025, but a chronic shortage of construction workers threatens to derail progress, reported The New Indian Express.

Despite ramping up efforts and redeploying manpower from other city projects, the workforce on this stretch still hovers around the 90 per cent mark, roughly 5,200 workers, falling short of what’s needed for the highly labour-intensive finishing phase.

“The viaduct is complete, but completing the stations’ access points is proving to be a challenge,” T Archunan, Director (Projects) was quoted as saying by TNIE.

He added, “We’re relying heavily on migrant labourers from northern India, as local workers increasingly prefer opportunities overseas – in places like Singapore and Dubai.”

While Corridor 4 has managed to stabilise its workforce, Corridors 5 and 3 remain significantly understaffed.

Corridor 5 is operating with a 30 per cent labour shortfall, and Corridor 3 faces a 20 per cent deficit in the underground stretch and 30 per cent in the elevated section.

Another key stretch, from Koyambedu to Chennai Trade Centre, is slated for opening next year.

Linking this segment to the double-decker line from Kodambakkam to Porur remains one of the more complex undertakings.

Full completion of the Porur-Kodambakkam stretch is scheduled for June 2026.

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