Chennai Metro Phase 2
Three new corridors, 118.9 km, and 128 stations opening in stages. The first section, the Yellow Line from Poonamallee to Vadapalani, opened on 11 October 2026. Here is what is open, what comes next, and what it means for your commute.
Yellow Line first section, Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani
The 14.6 km elevated stretch is the first part of Phase 2 to carry passengers. After several postponements the Prime Minister flagged it off at Poonamallee on the morning of Sunday 11 October 2026, and passenger services began at 4 pm that day. Trains run daily from 7 am to 9 pm, every 10 minutes at weekday peaks and every 15 minutes otherwise, covering 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) open since 11 October 2026, the rest follows in stages
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, the first part of Phase 2 to open, has carried passengers since 11 October 2026.
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 Is Open and What Comes Next
For now, 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.
Open now · 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
Hours
Daily from 7 am to 9 pm. The last trains leave Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani at 9 pm.
Frequency
Every 10 minutes at peak times on weekdays and Saturdays (8 to 11 am and 5 to 8 pm), every 15 minutes at other times, and every 15 minutes all day on Sundays and public holidays.
Travel Time
About 30 minutes end to end (roughly 90 minutes by road in peak traffic)
Fares
From ₹10 to ₹40 within the line, for example ₹30 from Vadapalani to Porur Junction and ₹40 to Poonamallee Bypass. Journeys that carry on to the Green or Blue Line cost up to ₹50, the network maximum. The Singara Chennai card and QR tickets bought on the CMRL app, WhatsApp, Paytm, or PhonePe get 20% off, so a ₹40 fare becomes ₹32. Paper tickets from the counter pay the full fare.
Ticketing
Same system as the existing network, with tokens, the Singara Chennai card, and QR tickets on the CMRL app, WhatsApp, Paytm, and PhonePe.
Stations
All eleven stations are elevated, with platform screen doors, ticket vending machines, and gates that read both card taps and QR codes.
Yellow Line Fares From Each Station
Single-journey fares from the official CMRL fare table, last updated on 9 October 2026. Koyambedu, Central, and the Airport are one change away at Vadapalani. The Singara Chennai card and app or WhatsApp QR tickets pay 20% less.
| From | Vadapalani | Koyambedu | Central | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porur Junction | ₹30 | ₹30 | ₹40 | ₹40 |
| Porur Bypass | ₹30 | ₹30 | ₹50 | ₹40 |
| Thelliyaragaram | ₹30 | ₹30 | ₹50 | ₹40 |
| Iyyapanthangal | ₹30 | ₹40 | ₹50 | ₹40 |
| Kattupakkam | ₹30 | ₹40 | ₹50 | ₹40 |
| Kumananchavadi | ₹30 | ₹40 | ₹50 | ₹40 |
| Karayanchavadi | ₹30 | ₹40 | ₹50 | ₹50 |
| Poonamallee Government Hospital | ₹40 | ₹40 | ₹50 | ₹50 |
| Poonamallee Bus Stand | ₹40 | ₹40 | ₹50 | ₹50 |
| Poonamallee Bypass | ₹40 | ₹40 | ₹50 | ₹50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Chennai Metro Yellow Line open?
The first section opened on Sunday 11 October 2026. The Prime Minister flagged it off at Poonamallee that morning and rode the train with the Chief Minister, and passenger services began at 4 pm the same day, when 25,474 people rode in the first five hours. This is the 14.6 km elevated stretch between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani, which cleared its safety inspections in June. The six remaining elevated stations on Arcot Road follow later in 2026, and the underground stretch towards Lighthouse after that.
What are the Yellow Line timings?
Trains run daily from 7 am to 9 pm, and the last trains leave Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani at 9 pm. On weekdays and Saturdays trains come every 10 minutes from 8 to 11 am and from 5 to 8 pm, and every 15 minutes at other times. On Sundays and public holidays they run every 15 minutes all day. These hours are shorter than on the Blue and Green Lines, so check the CMRL app before a late journey.
How much does the Yellow Line cost?
Single-journey fares within the line run from ₹10 to ₹40. Vadapalani to Porur Junction is ₹30 and Vadapalani to Poonamallee Bypass is ₹40. If you change at Vadapalani for the Green Line, the whole journey costs no more than ₹50, so Poonamallee Bypass to Central is ₹50 and Porur Junction to the Airport is ₹40. The Singara Chennai card and QR tickets bought on the CMRL app, WhatsApp, Paytm, or PhonePe get 20% off. These figures are from the official CMRL fare table, last updated on 9 October 2026.
Which Yellow Line stations are open?
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 run direct for now. 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 at weekday peaks and every 15 minutes at other times. 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 is an interchange with the Green Line. 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 and press reports as of 13 October 2026, and fares come from the CMRL fare table of 9 October 2026. Both are updated as sections open. For official service updates, see the CMRL website.