Story perspectives

Chennai Metro Phase II opens Poonamallee–Vadapalani stretch

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 4:40 AM UTC · How we work

Center

Rs13,000 crore package

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay inaugurated the Poonamallee–Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Phase II on Sunday in Chennai.
The ceremony also launched a Rs 13,000 crore Tamil Nadu development package and a INR17,000 crore plan to expand V O Chidambaranar Port into a mega container and green-energy hub.
The segment includes 11 stations and started service at 4 pm Sunday.
Trains run every ten minutes during weekday peak periods.

Right

Fuel savings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay inaugurated the Poonamallee–Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Phase II on Sunday.
Commuters Nitesh Kumar and S Ramesh Anand reported the line cuts travel time from about an hour to under 30 minutes and saves fuel.
The 14.64 km elevated segment, built at a cost of Rs 4,900 crore, includes 11 stations.
Driverless trains will start with two operators, aiming for fully unattended service by mid-2027.

Blindspot

The inauguration was part of a Rs 13,000 crore package that also launched highway, railway, port and research projects across Tamil Nadu, and Modi announced a INR17,000 crore investment to develop V O Chidambaranar Port into a mega container and green-energy hub.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

The Delhi Metro, approved by the Union Cabinet in September 1996 and built by the newly created DMRC, opened its Red Line on 24 December 2002 under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Its first phase delivered a 64.75 km, 59-station network by 2006, a model later followed by Chennai’s Phase-II stretch inaugurated in 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

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Rs13,000 crore package

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay inaugurated the Poonamallee–Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Phase II on Sunday in Chennai.
The ceremony also launched a Rs 13,000 crore Tamil Nadu development package and a INR17,000 crore plan to expand V O Chidambaranar Port into a mega container and green-energy hub.
The segment includes 11 stations and started service at 4 pm Sunday.
Trains run every ten minutes during weekday peak periods.

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