PM Modi likely to inaugurate Poonamallee-Vadapalani phase II Metro Rail stretch on October 11

After months of waiting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Rail’s phase II project on October 11, sources said. He is also expected to take a train ride from Poonamallee to Porur.

Mr. Modi will board the train at Poonamallee and alight at Porur station. Sources said the Prime Minister may also visit IIT-Madras, and there will be another public function as well, where he will inaugurate various projects, including the Vellore airport, and also lay the foundation for more projects.

In the initial phase, a train will be available every 10 minutes between the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch and about 15 trains are likely to be put to use for operations.

The first stretch of the 118.9 km phase II project from Poonamallee to Porur, a section of Corridor 4 (Poonamallee to Light House), was slated for completion in December 2025. Then, Chennai Metro Rail began work to improve connectivity to Vadapalani station so commuters could switch to the phase I network at this station. The works were slated for completion in February 2026. But the 14.6 km stretch, from Poonamallee to Vadapalani via Porur, received the final approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) only in May this year.

The opening of this stretch will be a much-needed relief to commuters, as they can finally skip heavy congestion on Arcot Road and travel by Metro Rail from Poonamallee to Vadapalani. But till now, Chennai Metro Rail continues to construct the stations from Alapakkam to Saligramam (situated between Porur and Vadapalani). It is still not clear when these stations will be open to the public. Many commuters have been constantly questioning the inordinate delay in the opening of the Poonamallee-Vadapalani Metro Rail stretch, and when it would be inaugurated.