Kamal Ghorui
Chennai: City motorists may have to contend with narrowed roads, blocked stretches and slow-moving traffic for at least one more year, as Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) targets completion of nearly 40km of elevated corridors under Phase 2 by March 2027.Including the nearly 28km planned for commissioning this year, close to 90% of the 74km elevated alignment of the 116.1km Phase 2 network would be operational. If CMRL’s construction plan stays on schedule, several major arterial roads could be cleared of barricades by next year, marking completion of more than 50% of the overall Phase-2 project. Key elevated stretches scheduled for completion include the 39.44km section from Chennai Trade Centre to Sholinganallur on the 44.6km Corridor 5 (Madhavaram-Sholinganallur), and the Nehru Nagar-Siruseri stretch on the 45.4km Corridor-3 (Madhavaram–Sipcot) along OMR. Officials said that as viaduct construction is completed, barricades occupying the centre of roads will be removed in phases.
“Only the underground stretches will be left after that, and those are expected to be ready by 2028. We are also planning to open a small stretch between Powerhouse and Panagal Park on Corridor-4 by March 2027,” a metro rail official said.However, large sections in core city areas such as Mylapore, Villivakkam and Nungambakkam, are likely to remain blocked.Meanwhile, the Vadapalani-Poonamallee stretch is set to become the first operational segment of Phase-2, expected to open later this month. The section from Koyambedu to Chennai Trade Centre is targeted for commissioning by June 2026.Officials, however, acknowledge challenges. While work on Nehru Nagar-Sholinganallur stretch is progressing rapidly, the Sholinganallur-Siruseri section is slower in some pockets. “We handed over land for entry and exit points along the entire OMR stretch two months ago. We should be able to finish on time,” the official said.
