Chennai Metro
Chennai Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Chennai, India. As of March 2024, the operational network consists of two colour-coded lines covering a length of 54 kilometres (33.55 mi) making it the fifth longest metro system in India. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), a joint venture between Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu built and operates the Chennai Metro. The system uses standard gauge and has a mix of underground and elevated stations.
| Chennai Metro | |||
|---|---|---|---|
A Metro train arriving at Koyambedu station in 2015 | |||
| Overview | |||
| Native name | சென்னை மாநகரத் தொடரி | ||
| Owner | Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) | ||
| Locale | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| Transit type | Rapid Transit | ||
| Number of lines | 2 (operational) 3 (under construction) | ||
| Line number | Operational
| ||
| Number of stations | 42 | ||
| Daily ridership | 0.25 million (2023) | ||
| Annual ridership | 70.7 million (2022-23) | ||
| Headquarters | MetroS, Anna Salai, Nandanam, Chennai–600035 | ||
| Website | chennaimetrorail | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | 29 June 2015 | ||
| Operator(s) | Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) | ||
| Number of vehicles | 52 | ||
| Train length | 100 m (328 ft) | ||
| Headway | 2–8 minutes | ||
| Technical | |||
| System length | 54.65 km (33.96 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC Catenary | ||
| Top speed | 120 km/h (75 mph) | ||
| |||
Planning for the metro started in 2007-08 with the construction commencing in February 2009. Testing began in 2014 and the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety approved the operations in January 2015. On 29 June 2015, commercial operations started between Alandur and Koyambedu stations on the green line and on 21 September 2016, operations on the green line was extended to Chennai Airport and Little Mount. Commercial operations commenced in the first underground section between Thirumangalam to Nehru Park on 14 May 2017 and extended to Chennai central on 25 May 2018.
In May 2018, operations on the blue line commenced between Saidapet and AG-DMS with the extended underground stretch from AG-DMS to Washermanpet of blue line commencing operations on 10 February 2019 completing the phase 1 of the metro. As of 2023, three more lines are under construction covering a length of 116.1 kilometres (72.14 mi) in the second phase and Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System is planned to be taken over by Chennai Metro.