Chennai Metro: Route, Map, Timings, Fare and Updates

Chennai Metro is a rapid metro transit system serving the capital city of Tamil Nadu. Started in 2015, it is India’s 4th longest metro network. The metro network has two operational and three under-construction lines. It is built and operated by the Chennai Metro Rail Corporation (CMRL).

Chennai Metro Rail Corporation is a joint venture of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Union Government of India. The metro system has a mix of elevated and underground metro stations. The metro authority plans to take over the Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System to ensure seamless connectivity and interoperability. It is an elevated railway network operated by the Indian Railways. The mover is expected to streamline the connectivity infrastructure across Chennai further. Keep reading to know more about the metro network.

Key Facts About Chennai Metro

Check out the table below to learn some quick facts about the Chennai Metro:

Chennai Metro: Operational Lines

The following lines of Chennai Metro are currently operational-

• Blue Line 1 from Wimco Nagar Depot to Chennai International Airport

• Green Line 2 from Chennai Central to St Thomas Mount

Chennai Metro Blue Line 1

Blue Line 1 is one of the two operational metro lines of the metro network. The Blue Line 1 of Chennai Metro stretches from Wimco Nagar to the International Airport of Chennai. Line 1 consists of a total of 26 metro stations along the stretch. Out of the 26 metro stations, 13 are underground, and 13 are elevated.

With seamless connectivity to the Chennai International Airport, Blue Line 1 is very useful for frequent commuters. Moreover, its intersection with the Green Line and proposed linkages with the Mass Rapid Transit System will further boost the connectivity quotient.

Chennai Metro Green Line 2

Green Line 2 is one of the two operational lines of the Chennai metro. The Green Line stretches from St. Thomas Mount station to Chennai Central metro station. The Green Line metro network consists of a total of 17 stations. Out of the 17 stations, eight metro stations are elevated, and nine are underground.

Chennai Metro: Under Construction Lines

Currently (March 2022), three lines of Chennai Metro are under construction, viz Purple Line, Orange Line and Red Line.

• Purple Line 3 from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Siruseri SIPCOT 2

• Orange Line 4 from Poonamallee Bypass to Lighthouse

• Red Line 5 from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur

Chennai Metro Purple Line 3

Purple Line 3 of Chennai Metro is an under-construction metro line. This will run from Siruseri SIPCOT 2 to the Madhavaram Milk Colony. The Purple Line will have a total of 48 stations in total. Of these, 29 will be underground, and 19 will be elevated.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited submitted the feasibility report of the Purple Line of Chennai Metro in 2024. The Detailed Project Report of the metro route was submitted to the state government to gain approval in Feb 2025. The report is still awaiting approval from the government.

Chennai Metro Purple Line is expected to be completed by the end of 2028. Find the list of Purple Line Metro Stations below.

Chennai Metro Orange Line 4

Orange Line 4 of the Chennai Metro is one of the three under-construction lines of Chennai Metro. Once completed, the orange line would run from the Lighthouse area to the Poonamallee Bypass. The orange line is planned to have 28 stations. Out of the total stations, 10 would be underground, and 18 would be elevated.

The Feasibility Report of the Orange Line of Chennai Metro Project was submitted by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited in 2024. The project is still in the proposed state and awaiting approval from the state government. The metro line is covered under Chennai Metro Project Phase 2. It is expected to become operational by the end of 2028.

The total length of the Orange Line stretch will be over 26 Km. Line 4 of the Chennai metro has the following stations on its route.

Chennai Metro Red Line 5

Under construction, Red Line 5 of Chennai Metro will connect the Madhavaram area with the Sholinganallur region. This key metro line will have a total of 48 metro stations.

Chennai Metro Red Line is expected to become operational by the end of 2027. Out of the total stations, 41 will be elevated, one at-grade and six underground stations.

Chennai Metro Timings

Chennai’s metro has significantly reduced travel time for daily commuters. At present, the metro operates from 04:30 AM to 11:00 PM. The frequency of one train remains 4-5 minutes during peak hours and 15 minutes during lean hours.

Chennai Metro Fares

As the Chennai metro system was floated to help the masses, the fares have been kept reasonable. The minimum charges in the Chennai metro are Rs 10, and the maximum has been capped at Rs 50. The fares depend upon the distance travelled by the passenger.

Ticketing, Token, and Smart Cards

The following types of tickets are available on the Chennai Metro:

Single Journey Tokens: For every journey, a single journey token must be purchased at the ticket counter or through the ticket vending machines available at every station.

• A single journey token costs between Rs 30 and Rs 120.

• The CMRL app can also be used to purchase single and return journey tickets. Passengers can scan these tickets using QR code ticket scanners available at stations.

Stored or Smart Value Cards: SVCs are rechargeable and pre-paid travel cards that can be bought at any ticket counter with a deposit (refundable) of Rs 50.

• These cards can be recharged for up to Rs 3000 at any ticket counter or automated ticket vending machine available at all stations.

• SVC users receive a 20% discount on fares, making the cost of a single journey range between Rs 24 and Rs 96.

Trip Cards: These cards are for people who regularly travel between the same two stations. Fares are discounted by 20% and are available in three types: 10 trips valid for 30 days, 30 for 90 days, and 60 for 180 days.

Tourist Cards: These Cards allow unlimited one-day travel on Chennai Metro. The card costs Rs 150, of which Rs 50 is refunded upon returning the card. This is for people visiting Chennai for a short period and planning to travel to their destinations by metro.

QR Tickets: QR code boards are available at various points within stations. The commuters can scan the code and buy tickets from the Chennai Metro Rail ticketing page. All digital payment options, including UPI, net banking, credit/debit banking, etc., are available to pay fares.

Singara Chennai Card: This card is available under the NCMC scheme in association with SBI. It is a card that can store a maximum amount of Rs 2000.

Chennai Metro Phase 2

The State Bank of India (SBI) is set to sanction a loan of Rs 450 crore for the Chennai Metro Phase 2 (Koyambedu to SIPCOT) project. Out of this, 150 crore will be invested in the Phase 2 construction work, and the remaining amount will be used to procure 30 train cars.

• CMRL will be partnering with a commercial bank for the first time.

• This partnership will help make Phase 2 work a big hit.

Chennai Metro Phase 2 Funding

In a recent announcement by the Tamil Nadu Government, Rs 12,000 crore will be allocated to the construction of Chennai Metro Phase 2. The funding has been granted under the state budget 2024-25.

Current Status of Chennai Metro Phase 2

The Chennai Metro project Phase 2 work is in full swing. The tunnelling work has already begun beneath the Adyar River, excavating tunnels at approximately 18 metres to expand the city’s metro infrastructure. Additionally,

• Driverless metro train operations are expected to start from Porur to Poonamallee on Orange Line Metro by the end of 2028.

• Power House to Porur stretch on Line 4 (Orange Line) is expected to start operations within a few months from Porur to Poonamallee stretch start date.

• Work on Corridor 5, stretching from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur, is progressing.

• The track work has begun between the planned Metro stations at Echankadu and Vellakal.

• The construction of piers along Corridor 5 is also in full swing.

• Corridor 5 features a mix of elevated and underground sections, with progress on elevated stretches on track from Madhavaram to Elcot.

• The first operational stretch within Corridor 5, covering Madhavaram to Retteri, is expected to be ready by the end of 2026.

Meanwhile, Chennai Metro Rail focuses on completing construction between Poonamallee and Porur Junction. Operations are expected to commence by the end of 2025.

Other Upcoming Chennai Metro Projects

The current Channai metro lines are being further expanded as follows:

Kodambakkam to Poonamallee – To Be Operational by 2025

The line will cover 16 km from Kodambakkam to Poonamallee and is expected to be completed by December 2024.

• Once completed, commuters can travel the distance in less than 60 minutes.

• The line includes 18 stations, and 13 of them are being constructed quickly.

• The line is a 26.1 km corridor from Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass. It may be the first to open to the public before December 2025.

• The construction of entry and exit points at Valasaravakkam, Alapakkam, Saligramam, Kattupakkam, Thelliagaram, and Poonamallee is underway.

• The double-decker stretch of the line includes 4 stations, and construction has been slowed due to a high-voltage underground electricity cable coming in the way of the pillars being built.

Phase 2 St Thomas Mount-Adambakkam – To Be Ready By 2027

Chennai Metro Rail Limited announced that the St Thomas Mount-Adambakkam stretch on Phase 2 Corridor Five will be ready by 2027. This stretch is one of the crucial stretches covering a distance of 4 km. This stretch will serve a number of citizens of Chennai.’

Extension of Poonamallee-Sriperumbudur line to Parandur Airport

• The Tamil Nadu government’s recent decision to extend Chennai’s metro rail by another 93 km.

• The plan is to extend the ongoing Poonamallee-Sriperumbudur line by 28 km, with stations at a distance of 7-10 km between each other.

• The trains are designed to be faster, and the coaches and tracks may also be modified for increased efficiency.

• The station located inside the airport will provide easy access to the terminals.

• Parandur will have an airport and an airport city, so multiple metro stations will be required.

• This expansion will significantly boost the city’s transportation system, providing better connectivity and quicker travel times.

New CMRL Projects in Trichy, Coimbatore, and Madurai

In March 2024, CMRC announced that feasibility studies were conducted for mass rapid transit in Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, and Salem. The Trichy metro map has already been released, and Salem and Tirunelveli will be getting the Metro Light. The study identified suitable rapid transit systems and routes for the cities.

For instance

• In Tiruchirappalli, there will be 45 stations for mass rapid transit on two routes. It will be a two-corridor metro with a 45 km length.

• In Tirunelveli, there will be 40 stations on three routes.

• Salem will have a total of 38 stations on two routes.

The projects are expected to improve people’s mobility in the respective districts.

Chennai Metro – Semi High Speed Corridor

Last year, in 2024, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) planned to develop a semi-high-speed rail corridor across Tamil Nadu. Owing to this, the Chennai Metro proposed three major corridors. These include:

• Chennai to Chengalpattu to Tindivanam to Villupuram. The length of this corridor is expected to be around 167 km.

• The second corridor will connect Chennai to Kanchipuram to Vellore. The approximate length of this corridor is going to be 140 km.

• The third corridor being planned is from Coimbatore to Tiruppur to Erode to Salem. The estimated length of this line will be 185 km.

The authorities at CMRL have already started conducting the feasibility study to carry out these corridors. Development of these corridors will help improve the connectivity between cities and reduce the overall travel time between cities. CMRL is planning to develop these corridors under the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). These corridors will be designed to operate at speeds between 160 and 200 km/h.

Consultants have already been appointed to conduct the feasibility study. Planning is ongoing for things such as route alignments, station and depot locations. Also, the study for the integration of new corridors with existing metro and railway networks will be conducted by these consultants.

Impact of Chennai Metro on Real Estate 

The Chennai Metro Rail has played a significant role in boosting the real estate sector in Chennai. It has led to a rise in property and land prices along the metro corridors.

The Hindu has recently reported that property prices have experienced an increase of 30% to 40%. Additionally, land prices have spiked by an average of 20% to 35%.

Chennai’s Metro Rail has improved accessibility, so areas such as Nanganallur, Anna Nagar, T. Nagar, and Guindy have experienced the biggest surge in property values.

Other examples include Anna Salai, with a 4.5% year-on-year growth in land prices over the last 15 years, and Mount Poonamallee Road, which has seen an average 50% increase year-on-year since 2005.

Over the last 15 years, the Rajiv Gandhi Salai underwent an average year-on-year price increase of30%.

Additionally, in the last decade, property prices in Guindy have increased by a whopping 35%, soaring from Rs. 10,000 per sq. ft. to nearly Rs. 13,500 per sq. ft. in 2023.

Vadapalani had an average price of Rs. 7,900 a sq. ft in 2013 and stands at Rs. 10,000 a sq. ft. IN 2023.

As for Saidapet, the prices were Rs. 9,500 per sq. ft ten years ago and are now Rs. 11,900 per sq. ft, with an increase of 25%.

History of Chennai Metro Route Map

• 2007: Chennai’s metro system concept was introduced for the city’s urban transportation planning.

• 2008: It marked the establishment of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited, the authority responsible for planning and construction of the metro system.

• 2009: CMRL prepared Detailed project reports (DPR). These reports planned the project in two phases.

• 2010: Beginning of Phase 1 construction.

• 2011: Phase 1 construction focussed on developing the Blue Line (Corridor 1) and Green Line (Corridor 2).

• 2015: It marked the initiation of Chennai Metro operations.

• 2016: In 2016, the Blue Line of the network was extended to Wimco Nagar. Also, its Green Line was extended to St. Thomas Mount.

• 2017: The inauguration of the full Blue and Green Line routes marked the completion of Phase 1.

• 2018: CMRL started planning for Phase 2.

• 2019: Phase 2 construction started in 2019.

• 2021-Present:

  Phase 2 construction is currently going on. Several corridors are near completion.

Preparatory Work for Koyambedu–Avadi–Pattabiram Metro Corridor Kicks Off 

The Tamil Nadu government has granted administrative approval for preparatory work on a new Chennai Metro Rail corridor. The project, which will connect Koyambedu, Avadi, and Pattabiram, is estimated to cost INR 9,928.33 crore and will span 21.76 km.

The initial preparatory phase will cost around INR 2,442 crore. This preparation includes land acquisition and utility relocation. The state has already sanctioned INR 188 crore for preliminary work, which will be provided to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL).

While the state government has approved the project and submitted a detailed project report, it is currently awaiting a final green light from the Union government. The new corridor is planned as an entirely elevated line with 19 stations, and residents of Avadi are urging authorities to expedite the process to improve daily commutes.

Key Facts About Koyambedu–Avadi–Pattabiram Metro

The following are key facts about the Chennai metro stretch:-

Chennai Metro Contact Information

Here are the contact details of Chennai Metro customer care team.

• Helpline Number: 1860-425-1515

• Contact Number: 044 2437 8000

• Email Address: chennaimetrorail@cmrl.in

• Official Address: Chennai Metro Rail Limited, METROS, No.327, Anna Salai, Nandanam, Chennai-600 035, Tamil Nadu,India.

Conclusion to Chennai Metro Route Map Updates

In conclusion, the Chennai Metro route map is gradually becoming the most preferred mode of travel for the citizens of Chennai. Given the growth of the IT sector and commercial activities, the metro expansion would prove immensely beneficial in improving the city’s connectivity quotient.

Chennai Metro Red Line is expected to become operational by the end of 2027.