Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay formally inaugurated the first operational stretch of the Chennai Metro Rail Phase 2 project on Sunday, marking the rollout of commuter services on the western corridor.
Following the flagging-off ceremony, both leaders boarded the inaugural train together for a ride. The joint appearance on the transit system drew significant political attention amid shifting equations in the state.
The newly opened initial segment connects Poonamallee to Vadapalani. Transport authorities stated that 15 trains have been deployed for this section during the initial rollout phase.
Commuters using the corridor can expect a train frequency of every 10 minutes during peak hours. Regular public passenger operations on the line commenced at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Ahead of the high-profile visit, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police implemented strict route diversions across multiple parts of the city. Restrictions were specifically enforced for commercial and heavy vehicles to manage congestion during the VVIP movement.
Phase 2 of the metro network is designed to expand urban transit coverage significantly across the metropolitan area, easing road traffic congestion as subsequent sections near completion over the coming years.