Chennai Metro Phase 2: PM Modi to inaugurate Poonamallee-Vadapalani line today – Check stations, timings

The Poonamallee–Vadapalani stretch is a new elevated section of Chennai Metro Phase 2. It belongs to Corridor 4, also called the Yellow Line. The section matters because it adds a direct metro connection between Chennai’s western suburbs and the city centre. It is intended to make daily travel easier and reduce journey times along this route.

The section runs between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani. Its 11 stations include Poonamallee Bus Stand, Porur Junction and Vadapalani. Trains will operate in both directions. The corridor also includes a 3.7-km double-decker structure and advanced signalling designed to support driverless train operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the stretch on October 11, 2026. Passenger services begin at 4 PM that day and run until 9 PM. From October 12, regular services will operate from 7 AM to 9 PM, creating a new Yellow Line link for commuters.

The new metro section is a sizeable addition to Chennai’s public transport network. It stretches 15 km from Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani and contains 11 elevated stations. Construction cost around Rs 4,900 crore. These figures show the scale of the project and its focus on serving a long western-suburban route.

The stations run through places such as Poonamallee, Kattupakkam, Iyappanthangal and Porur. The route includes a 3.7-km double-decker structure. It also uses advanced signalling systems designed to support driverless train operations. Trains run in both directions between the two terminals.

On October 11, passenger services begin at 4 PM and end at 9 PM. From October 12, regular services operate from 7 AM to 9 PM. The last train leaves both Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani at 9 PM. Thus, the section offers a daily operating window of up to 14 hours after regular service begins.

The stretch connects Chennai’s western suburbs with the city centre through an 11-station route. It begins at Poonamallee Bypass and ends at Vadapalani. Intermediate stations include Poonamallee Bus Stand, Poonamallee Government Hospital, Karayanchavadi, Kumananchavadi, Kattupakkam, Iyappanthangal, Thelliyaragaram, Porur Bypass and Porur Junction.

From Monday to Saturday, trains run every 10 minutes during peak periods: 8 AM to 11 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM. During non-peak periods—7 AM to 8 AM, 11 AM to 5 PM and 8 PM to 9 PM—the interval is 15 minutes. Trains operate in both directions.

On Sundays and public holidays, the service runs every 15 minutes from 7 AM to 9 PM. There is no separate peak-hour frequency on those days. Regular services begin on Monday, October 12, after opening-day services run from 4 PM to 9 PM on October 11.

The Poonamallee–Vadapalani connection could change travel by giving commuters in Chennai’s western suburbs a direct metro route toward the city centre. The article expects the stretch to reduce travel time and make everyday journeys easier. It also provides a dependable service pattern instead of requiring every trip to depend on road conditions.

For example, a passenger near Poonamallee Bypass can board a train toward Vadapalani and pass through stations such as Porur Bypass and Porur Junction. During weekday peak hours, trains arrive every 10 minutes. This frequency, combined with service in both directions, supports regular commuting along the 15-km corridor.

The service begins with limited hours on October 11, from 4 PM to 9 PM. From October 12, trains run from 7 AM to 9 PM. The article does not provide specific travel-time figures, but it identifies shorter journeys and easier daily commuting as expected benefits.

A double-decker metro structure is a transport structure built with two levels, or decks, stacked vertically. The levels can carry separate transport routes or forms of transport, depending on the project’s design. The article identifies a 3.7-km double-decker structure on the Poonamallee–Vadapalani corridor, but does not specify how its two levels are used.

The main advantage is space efficiency. Instead of spreading infrastructure across a wider strip of land, a city can stack routes above one another. This may help preserve road space, reduce land requirements and fit major transport links into crowded urban areas. Construction choices still depend on engineering, safety and local conditions.

For Chennai, the double-decker section is one of the corridor’s key features. It forms part of a 15-km elevated route with 11 stations. Alongside advanced signalling, it shows how the project uses specialised infrastructure to expand metro connectivity between the western suburbs and the city centre.

Advanced signalling is the metro’s traffic-management system. It tracks trains, controls movement authority and communicates when a train may proceed. By maintaining a safe separation between trains, it helps prevent collisions and supports reliable service. The article says Chennai’s new corridor uses signalling designed for driverless operations.

In a driverless system, computers and automatic train-control equipment can regulate speed, braking, stopping and departures. Trackside equipment and onboard systems exchange information about location and permitted movement. If a train is too close to another or a section is unavailable, the system can restrict movement or apply braking. These are standard principles of automated metro control.

The article does not describe Chennai’s exact signalling equipment or safety procedures. It states that the corridor’s advanced system is designed to support driverless trains. The line will initially provide passenger services between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani, with trains operating in both directions.

Cities invest in metros because they provide high-capacity public transport along busy urban routes. A single train can carry many passengers, allowing more people to travel without each person using a private vehicle. This can make important connections more efficient and give commuters an alternative to road-based travel. The article links Chennai’s new stretch with easier journeys and reduced travel time.

The Poonamallee–Vadapalani section illustrates this approach. It serves an 11-station, 15-km corridor between western suburbs and the city centre. Trains run in both directions. On weekday peak periods, they arrive every 10 minutes, giving commuters a regular service for work and other daily trips.

The article does not quantify changes in road traffic, pollution or vehicle use. It does state that the new connection is expected to reduce travel time and improve connectivity. Regular services begin October 12, running from 7 AM to 9 PM, after the October 11 opening-day schedule.