Chennai Metro is maintained and managed by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited. The project was planned and conceptualised in 2007 with a primary budget of Rs 50 crores. The plan and layout were designed in close collaboration with DMRC. The construction of Phase 1 commenced in the year 2009 joining Ashok Nagar to Koyambedu.
The Chennai Metro was inaugurated in June 2015 with a 4.5 KM stretch between Alandur and Koyambedu stations. With the advent of technology, now all the trains can be operated driverless. A second phase is also planned and the construction shall be completed by 2026.
Chennai Metro Highlights
| Owner | Chennai Metro |
| Operated by | Chennai Metro Rail Limited |
| Station Layout | UndergroundElevated |
| Located at | Chennai |
| Stations | Wimco Nagar DepotWimco NagarTiruvottriyurTiruvottriyur TheradiKaladipet |
| Operation Date | 14th November 2013 |
| Timing | First Train: 05.30 amLast Train: 11.30 pm |
| Parking | Available |
| Disability Access | Yes |
| Track Gauge | Broad Gauge |
| Maximum Train Speed | 100 km/hr |
| Minimum Fare | Rs 30 |
| Maximum Fare | Rs 40 |
Chennai Metro Operational Routes
Presently, Chennai Metro has two operational routes namely Blue Line and Green Line. Both of the lines have underground and elevated stations connecting different parts of the city. Know more about both the lines of Chennai Metro in the section below.
Chennai Metro Corridors in Phase 1
1. Blue Line
Blue Line is the first line that is spread from Wimco Nagar to the International Airport of Chennai. There are a total of 26 metro stations out of which 13 are underground and 13 are elevated.
| Blue Line 1 of Chennai Metro | ||
| Metro Station | Connected with | Elevation |
| Wimco Nagar Depot | Chennai Suburban Railways | Elevated |
| Wimco Nagar | Chennai Suburban Railways | Elevated |
| Tiruvottriyur | Chennai Suburban Railways | Elevated |
| Tiruvottriyur Theradi | None | Elevated |
| Kaladipet | None | Elevated |
| Tollgate | Chennai Suburban Railways | Elevated |
| New Washermanpet station | None | Elevated |
| Tondiarpet Station | None | Underground |
| Sir Theagaraya College Station | None | Underground |
| Washermanpet | Chennai Suburban Railways | Underground |
| Mannadi Station | None | Underground |
| High Court | Bus Terminus | Underground |
| Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central | Green Line Connection | Underground |
| Government Estate | None | Underground |
| LIC | None | Underground |
| Thousand Lights | Line 3 (Chennai Metro) | Underground |
| AG – DMS | None | Underground |
| Teynampet | None | Underground |
| Nandanam | Line 4 (Chennai Metro) | Underground |
| Saidapet | None | Underground |
| Little Mount | None | Elevated |
| Guindy | Chennai Suburban Railways | Elevated |
| Arignar Anna Alandur | Green Line 5 | Elevated |
| Nanganallur Road | None | Elevated |
| Meenambakkam | Chennai Suburban Railways | Elevated |
| Chennai International Airport | Chennai Suburban Railways | Elevated |
2. Green Line
The Green Line is another operational line of Chennai Metro and it connects St. Thomas Mount station to Chennai Central Metro station. This line connects a total of 17 stations all elevated and underground.
| Metro Station | Connected with | Elevation |
| Egmore Station | Chennai Egmore Train station Chennai Suburban Railways | Underground |
| Nehru Park Station | None | Underground |
| Kilpauk Medical College Station | Chennai Suburban Railways Line 3 | Underground |
| Pachaiyappa’s College | None | Underground |
| Shenoy Nagar | None | Underground |
| Anna Nagar East | None | Underground |
| Anna Nagar Tower | None | Underground |
| Thirumangalam | None | Underground |
| Koyambedu | None | Elevated |
| CMBT | Line 5 (Chennai Metro) and Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus | Elevated |
| Arumbakkam | None | Elevated |
| Vadapalani | Line 4 | Elevated |
| Ashok Nagar | None | Elevated |
| Ekkattuthangal Station | None | Elevated |
| Alandur Station | Blue Line Line 5 of Chennai Metro | Elevated |
| St. Thomas Mount Station | Chennai suburban railways or MRTS | Elevated |
Chennai Metro Corridors in Phase 2
The Chennai Metro corridor in Phase 2 has been planned for a total of three corridors. Here are the names of all the three routes planned.
| Corridor 3 | Corridor 4 | Corridor 5 |
| Madhavaram Milk ColonyThapalpettiMurari HospitalMoolakadaiSembiyamPerambur MarketPerambur MetroAyanavaramOtteriPattalamPerambur Barracks RoadDoveton JunctionPurasawalkam High RoadKellysKMCChetpet MetroSterling Road JnNungambakkamGeminiThousand LightsRoyapettah Government HospitalRadhakrishnan Salai JnThirumayilai MetroMandaveliGreenways Road MetroAdyar JnAdayar DepotIndira NagarThiruvanmiyur MetroTharamani Link RoadNehru NagarKandanchavadiPerungudiThoraipakkamMettukuppamPTC ColonyOkkiyampetKarapakkamOkkiyam ThoraipakkamSholinganallurSathyabamaSt Joseph College | LightHouseKutchery RoadThirumayilai MetroAlwarpetBharathidasan RoadAdyar Gate JunctionNandanamNatesan ParkPanagal ParkKodambakkam Sub UrbanMeenakshi CollegePower HouseVadapalaniSaligramamAvichi SchoolAlwarthirunagarValasaravakkamKarambakkamAlapakkamPorur JunctionChennai Bypass CrossingRamachandra HospitalIyyappanthangal Bus DepotKattupakkamKumananchavadiKarayanchavadiMullai ThottamPoonamallee bus terminusPoonamallee BypassPoonamallee Bus Depot | Madhavaram Milk ColonyVenugopal NagarAssisi NagarManjambakkamVelmurugan NagarMMBTShastri NagarRetteriKolathurSrinivasa NagarVillivakkam MetroVillivakkam Bus TerminusNadhamuniAnna Nagar DepotTirumangalamKendriya VidyalayaKaliamman Koil StreetCMBT |
Chennai Metro Route Map
Chennai Metro Station Fare
Recently, the Chennai Metro has introduced new fares for the passengers using the metro to commute. As per that, the distance covered between 2 KM to 5 km will be charged at Rs 0. Whereas, if the distance is covered between 5 KM to 12 KM then one has to pay Rs 30. Similarly, the distances between 12 km and 21 km cost Rs 40.
The first train starts at 05.30 am and the last metro operates at 11 pm. The total fare a passenger has to pay is based on the distance travelled by the person. The frequency of one metro train is every four to five minutes.
Chennai Metro Lines Phase
Chennai Metro Phase 1
The Phase 1 of Chennai Metro has two corridors and it runs along three roads namely, Chennai- Anna Salai, EVR Periyar Salai, and Jawaharlal Nehru Salai. Recently, the corporation planned an extension from Wimco Nagar to Washermenpet.
A total of nine stations were planned for this extension with seven being elevated and two underground. Refer to the table below to get a quick overview of major stations and stations that comes under extension.
| Chennai Metro Phase 1 Overview | ||
| Blue Line | Green Line | Phase 1 Extension |
| Washermenpet Metro | Central Metro | Sir Thiyagaraya College |
| Mannadi | Egmore Metro | Tondiarpet |
| High Court | Nehru Park | New Washermenpet |
| Central Metro | Kilpauk | Tollgate Metro |
| Government Estate | Pachaiyappa’s college | Kaladipet Metro |
| LIC | Shenoy Nagar | Thiruvottiyur Theradi |
| Thousand Lights | Anna Nagar East | Thiruvottiyur |
| AG-DMS | Anna Nagar Tower | Wimco Nagar |
| Teynampet | Thirumangalam | |
| Nandanam | Koyambedu | |
| Saidapet Metro | CMBT | |
| Little Mount | Arumbakkam | |
| Guindy Metro | Vadapalani | |
| Alandur | Ashok Nagar | |
| Nanganallur Road | Ekkattuthangal | |
| Meenambakkam Metro | Alandur | |
| Chennai Airport | St Thomas Mount | |
Chennai Metro Phase 2
The corporation has also planned the phase 2 expansion of Chennai Metro. As per the plan, the extension shall be having three corridors. The three corridors are referred to as follows: Corridor 3, spanning from Madhavaram to SIPCOT, covering a distance of 46 kilometers; Corridor 4, extending from Lighthouse to Poonamalle Bypass, spanning 26 kilometers; and Corridor 5, running between Madhavaram and Sholinganallur, covering a distance of 47 kilometers.
Chennai Metro FAQs
- What is the timing of the Chennai Metro Station?
Ans. Chennai Metro Station is operational from 05.30 am to 11.30 pm.
- How many stations are there in Chennai Metro Station?
Ans. Presently, 40 substations are there in Chennai Metro Station.
- What is the minimum fare of Chennai Metro Station?
Ans. The minimum fare for Chennai Metro Station is Rs 10 and the maximum fare is Rs 40.
- Who owns the Chennai Metro Station?
Ans. Chennai Metro Rail Limited owns the Chennai Metro Station.