Chennai Metro Phase 2
Three new corridors, 118.9 km, and 128 stations opening in stages from July 2026. Here is what is opening, where, and what it means for your commute.
Yellow Line first section: Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani
The 14.6 km elevated stretch cleared its safety inspection in February 2026 and is the first part of Phase 2 to carry passengers. Trains run every 10 minutes and cover the route in about 30 minutes, a journey that takes around 90 minutes by road in peak traffic.
The Three New Corridors
Purple Line
(Corridor 3)Madhavaram Milk Colony ↔ SIPCOT
45.8 km · Under construction, opening in stages through 2028
The longest Phase 2 corridor runs from Madhavaram in north Chennai through Perambur, Purasawalkam, Chetpet, Nungambakkam, Alwarpet, and Adyar, then down the IT corridor via Thiruvanmiyur, Taramani, Perungudi, and Sholinganallur to SIPCOT. It will put the OMR IT belt on the metro map for the first time.
Yellow Line
(Corridor 4)Lighthouse ↔ Poonamallee Bypass
26.1 km · First section (Poonamallee Bypass ↔ Vadapalani) opens July 2026
Runs from the Marina at Lighthouse through Mylapore, Alwarpet, T. Nagar, and Kodambakkam, then west along Arcot Road through Vadapalani, Valasaravakkam, and Porur to Poonamallee. Nine stations are underground and eighteen elevated. The elevated western stretch is the first part of Phase 2 to open.
Red Line
(Corridor 5)Madhavaram Milk Colony ↔ Sholinganallur
47 km · Under construction, opening in stages through 2028
An orbital corridor linking north Chennai to the IT corridor without passing through the city centre. It runs via Retteri, Villivakkam, Anna Nagar, Koyambedu, Vadapalani, Ashok Nagar, Guindy, and Velachery before joining the OMR at Sholinganallur.
Yellow Line: What Opens When
At launch, trains serve ten stations from Poonamallee Bypass to Porur Junction and then run direct to Vadapalani. The six stations in between (Alapakkam, Karambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Virugambakkam South, and Saligramam) open later in 2026, followed by the underground stretch towards Lighthouse.
Opening July 2026 · 11 stations
Porur Junction
Locality guide →Porur Bypass
Locality guide →Thelliyaragaram
Iyyapanthangal
↔ Bus interchange
Kattupakkam
Kumananchavadi
Karayanchavadi
Poonamallee Government Hospital
Locality guide →Poonamallee Bypass
Later in 2026 · 7 stations
Elevated stations on Arcot Road between Vadapalani and Porur, plus Kodambakkam Powerhouse.
Kodambakkam Powerhouse
Saligramam
Locality guide →Virugambakkam South
Locality guide →Alwarthirunagar
Locality guide →Valasaravakkam
Locality guide →Karambakkam
Locality guide →Alapakkam
Underground section · 9 stations
The stretch from Kodambakkam to Lighthouse via T. Nagar, Alwarpet, and Mylapore is expected to open through 2027.
Lighthouse
Kutchery Road
Locality guide →Alwarpet
Locality guide →Bharathidasan Road
Boat Club
Nandanam
↔ Blue Line
Panagal Park
Locality guide →What Phase 2 Means for Your Neighbourhood
The Yellow Line is the first metro service for a string of fast-growing western neighbourhoods that have so far depended entirely on Arcot Road and Mount Poonamallee Road buses. Porur and Poonamallee get direct rail access from day one, with Valasaravakkam, Virugambakkam, and Saligramam joining later in 2026. At Vadapalani, the new line meets the Green Line, connecting the western suburbs to Koyambedu, Anna Nagar, Central, and the airport with one change.
When the underground section opens, Kodambakkam, T. Nagar (Panagal Park), Alwarpet, and Mylapore (Thirumayilai) join the network, putting the shopping district and the cultural heartland one ride from the western suburbs for the first time.
Practical Notes
Frequency
Every 10 minutes
Travel Time
About 30 minutes end to end (roughly 90 minutes by road in peak traffic)
Ticketing
Same system as the existing network: tokens, stored-value cards, and QR tickets via the Chennai Metro app.
Fares
Aligned with the existing CMRL distance slabs. Check the CMRL website or app for exact station-to-station fares.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Chennai Metro Yellow Line open?
The first section of the Yellow Line, the 14.6 km elevated stretch between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani, opens in July 2026 after clearing its Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety inspection in February 2026. The remaining elevated stations open later in 2026, and the underground stretch towards Lighthouse follows through 2027.
Which Yellow Line stations open first?
At launch, trains serve eleven stations: Poonamallee Bypass, Poonamallee Bus Stand, Poonamallee Government Hospital, Karayanchavadi, Kumananchavadi, Kattupakkam, Iyyapanthangal, Thelliyaragaram, Porur Bypass, Porur Junction, and Vadapalani. Between Porur Junction and Vadapalani, trains initially run direct; the six stations in between (Alapakkam, Karambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Virugambakkam South, and Saligramam) open later in 2026.
How long does Poonamallee to Vadapalani take on the metro?
About 30 minutes end to end, with trains every 10 minutes. The same journey by road along Arcot Road and Mount Poonamallee Road can take around 90 minutes in peak traffic.
Can I change to other metro lines from the Yellow Line?
Yes. Vadapalani connects to the Green Line from day one. When the underground section opens, Nandanam will connect to the Blue Line, Thirumayilai to the MRTS, and Kodambakkam to the suburban railway.
What are the other Phase 2 corridors?
Phase 2 has three corridors: the Yellow Line (Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass, 26.1 km), the Purple Line (Madhavaram Milk Colony to SIPCOT, 45.8 km, covering the OMR IT corridor), and the Red Line (Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur, 47 km, an orbital route via Anna Nagar, Koyambedu, Guindy, and Velachery). Together they add 118.9 km and 128 stations, opening in stages through 2028.
Status information reflects CMRL announcements as of July 2026 and is updated as sections open. For official service updates, see the CMRL website.