Click it and Unblock the Notifications
The proposed Poonamallee-Parandur Metro extension in Chennai is facing uncertainty after the Tamil Nadu government decided to drop the planned Parandur greenfield airport project. The Metro extension was originally planned mainly to provide better connectivity to the proposed airport.
Chennai's Poonamallee-Parandur Metro Corridor
The 52.94-km Poonamallee-Parandur Metro corridor was planned in two phases. The first phase covers the 27.9-km stretch between Poonamallee and Sunguvarchatram, while the second phase covers around 25 km from Sunguvarchatram to Parandur.
Despite the cancellation of the Parandur airport project, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has confirmed that it intends to continue with the first phase between Poonamallee and Sunguvarchatram.
The first phase is estimated to cost ₹8,779 crore, planned with 14 elevated stations, and is expected to improve public transport connectivity to the Sriperumbudur industrial and suburban belt. The route will also strengthen connectivity to important industrial areas in western Chennai and parts of Kancheepuram district.
The second phase, covering the Sunguvarchatram-Parandur section, has been put on hold for now. This portion was planned mainly to connect the Metro network with the proposed Parandur airport. With the airport project no longer moving forward, there is uncertainty over whether this section will be constructed.
According to the report, even if CMRL proceeds with the first phase, it could consider the second phase later, depending on future passenger demand and the region's development needs.
The proposed extension is part of efforts to expand Chennai's Metro network beyond the existing urban areas and improve connectivity to rapidly developing suburban and industrial zones.
For now, the Poonamallee-Sunguvarchatram section remains the immediate focus, while the future of the Sunguvarchatram-Parandur extension will depend on demand and further decisions by the authorities.