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Chennai: In a significant move to enhance urban connectivity, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is finalizing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a major new corridor linking Tambaram, Guindy, and Velachery. The proposed 21.5-kilometer stretch is slated to have 19 metro stations, strategically positioned to serve high-traffic residential, educational, and commercial zones.
According to CMRL officials, the DPR is expected to be completed within the next two weeks. Upon finalization, it will be submitted to both the Tamil Nadu and Central governments for necessary approvals and funding allocation. Officials estimate that it will take more than two years for physical construction to commence after securing these clearances.
Chennai Metro's New Corridor: 19 Stations Planned for Tambaram-Guindy-Velachery Line
Strategic Connectivity and Key StationsThe Tambaram-Guindy-Velachery corridor is designed to be a transformative artery for south Chennai. It will seamlessly connect:
Notable stations planned along the route include Medavakkam, Pallikaranai (near Kamakshi Memorial Hospital), Velachery Guru Nanak College junction, and an integration point with the under-construction Corridor 5 (Madhavaram-Sholinganallur).
Route Finalization and Broader Phase II Progress
The corridor's alignment was decided after CMRL re-evaluated travel demand. Initially, extensions to Little Mount were considered, but the focus shifted to Guindy to leverage its existing railway station, electric multiple unit (EMU) services, and its planned development as a central transport interchange.
This new corridor falls under the expansive Chennai Metro Phase II, which aims to construct 118.9 kilometers of new lines across the city. Overall, about 40% of the Phase II work is complete. However, officials noted delays due to issues like the cancellation of a station tender in Corridor 3.
Near-Term Openings
In more immediate developments, CMRL is gearing up to inaugurate its first stretch of Phase II. The 9-kilometer elevated line from Poonamallee to Porur is expected to open soon, with the Poonamallee station construction in its final stages. Officials are also targeting the early opening of the subsequent Porur-Kodambakkam route.
Of the total 50.5 kilometers of underground tunnelling required for Phase II, approximately 19 kilometers have been completed so far.
