TN Plans to Boost Chennai Public Transport Share to 50% by 2048

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay tabled the Special Initiatives Department’s policy note in the Assembly on Friday, setting a target to raise Chennai's public transport share from 28 per cent in 2018 to 50 per cent by 2048 through the accelerated expansion of the city's mass rapid transit network.

According to the policy note, the existing public transit infrastructure—comprising the 54.1-km operational Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I with 41 stations, Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses, suburban rail, and MRTS—is insufficient to handle the city’s rapidly growing mobility demands, traffic congestion, and pollution levels.

To address this gap, work is underway on the 118.9-km Chennai Metro Rail Phase-II project at an estimated cost of ₹63,246 crore. Approved by the Union government in October 2024 under a joint-venture model, the project will feature 128 stations across three corridors: the 45.8-km Madhavaram–Siruseri Sipcot Corridor-3, the 26.1-km Lighthouse–Poonamallee Bypass Corridor-4, and the 47-km Madhavaram–Sholinganallur Corridor-5.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited has secured external funding from JICA, ADB, AIIB, and NDB for various stretches. Financial contributions include ₹5,407.40 crore as share capital and ₹8,490.57 crore as subordinate debt from the State government, alongside ₹5,407.40 crore as equity and ₹1,299.90 crore as subordinate debt from the Centre.

The policy note highlighted that CMRL has installed 10.6 MWp of solar capacity, generating around 28,000 units of electricity daily and preventing 45,325 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, while regenerative braking systems recover an average of 32 per cent of energy. Digital ticketing via QR codes, UPI, NCMC cards, and mobile apps has been expanded, and non-fare revenue reached about 33 per cent of CMRL's total revenue in 2025-26.

The State is currently evaluating further Metro extensions toward Sriperumbudur and the Ambattur–Avadi corridor. Feasibility studies have also been initiated for MRTS-style systems in Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, and Tirunelveli.

Additionally, integrated commercial spaces are being planned on government land, including the Central Tower, the Broadway–Kuralagam multimodal facility, and integrated bus terminals at Vadapalani and Mandaveli.