CMRL Moves Ahead With Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram Metro Extension

Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) is moving ahead with securing administrative approvals for a 27.9-kilometre metro rail line from Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram, clarifying that the proposed transit extension has not been dropped despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding the planned greenfield airport in Parandur.

The 27.9-kilometre stretch represents the first phase of an original 52.94-kilometre elevated metro rail corridor planned between Poonamallee and Parandur. Designed to feature 20 stations along its entire length, the full 52.94-kilometre project was originally estimated to cost ₹15,906 crore.

From its inception, the transit corridor was conceived to be implemented in separate phases. CMRL planned for the Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram section to be taken up in phase one, while the remaining stretch from Sunguvarchatram to Parandur was intended for construction later, in line with the development schedule of the greenfield airport.

The airport project at Parandur currently remains in limbo. Tamil Nadu state officials have indicated that land acquisition activities for the airport site have been put on hold and the project is presently under review. Meanwhile, the Union government stated that it has received no proposal from Tamil Nadu to shift the airport location, meaning the Centre’s in-principle approval for the Parandur site remains valid.

Reassuring the public on the transit infrastructure front, a CMRL official confirmed that the metro extension project has not been dropped and that official approval for the line extending up to Sunguvarchatram is currently in process.

CMRL officials also disclosed that the Union government is processing three proposed metro extension lines across the Chennai region simultaneously. Aside from the Poonamallee-Sunguvarchatram route, the central government is evaluating the Airport to Kilambakkam corridor as well as the Koyambedu to Avadi route. Officials noted that the Centre remains very positive regarding the approval of all three proposed metro extension lines.