Chennai Metro Route Map 2024: Infrastructre, Lines, Timing, Fare, Facts, Stations

Chennai Metro was started on 29 June 2015. It provides the residents with an easy and comfortable transportation system. Phase 1 is operational yet still expanding and phase 2 is in the planning stage. It is owned by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited which was a joint venture made by the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of India. The headquarters of the same are in Koyambedu. As of now, there are 43 metro stations in Chennai. Metros start running at 5 AM and run till 11 PM. The token price starts from ₹10 and goes up to ₹50. Chennai metro is also the 5th largest metro service in India. 

Also read:

Mumbai Metro Route Map 2024: Station List, Lines, Timings & Facts

Delhi Metro Route Map 2024: Fare, Timings, Lines, Facts & Stations

 

History of Chennai Metro

 

The construction work of Chennai Metro began in 2009 and the first line that was built was the Blue Line, which was opened for service on 29 June 2015. It is 54 kilometres, making it the longest metro path in India. The trains do not run overground; only underground and sometimes on elevated viaducts. Standard gauge tracks (1435 mm) are used and an alternating current (AC) of 25 kilovolts is provided by an overhead catenary. 

 

Before this, Chennai began their metro railway services in 1931 under the name of Chennai Suburban Railway. It was a single line running on electricity and went from Chennai Beach to Tambaram. In 1985, two more lines were added to this existing project that linked Chennai Central with Gummidipoondi and Arakkonam. The Planning Commission of India decided to check the conditions of this system, whether it was satisfactory or if work needed to be done. The team set up to carry out this task ran tests on the feasibility of the service and their conclusion was to introduce new projects to reduce the heavy traffic and congestion in the city. This led to the creation of Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System, which became the country’s first elevated railway line. Operations began in 1995 and the train ran from Chennai Beach to Chepauk. It was further extended to go to Thirumayilai in 1997, Thirvanmiyur in 2004 and Velachery in 2007. After Delhi Metro had been established, the same model of railway system was also adopted in Chennai. 

 

Metro Lines

 

At this moment, only the Blue and Green metro lines are operational in Chennai while another three lines (Purple, Orange, Yellow) are under construction. 

 

Blue Line: The Blue Line stretches from Wimco Nagar Depot to Chennai International Airport. It is 32.6 kilometres long and has 26 stations. 

Green Line: The Green Line stretches from Chennai Central Railway Station to St Thomas Mount. It is 22 kilometres long and has 17 stations.

Inter Corridor Line: The Inter Corridor Line stretches from Chennai Central to Chennai International Airport. It has 14 stations. 

Purple Line: This line is still under construction. It will go from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Siruseri Sipcot 2. It is expected to be 45.8 kilometres long with 50 stations. 

Orange Line: This line is still under construction. It will go from Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass. It is expected to be 26.1 kilometres long with 30 stations. 

Red Line: This line is still under construction. It will go from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur. It is expected to be 47 kilometres long with 48 stations. 

 

The trains run at a speed of around 80 kilometres per hour and the first train of the system was piloted by a woman. After the  Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), this is the second rapid transit system in Chennai. Over 1200 people can travel in a train, making it easy to commute to the important parts of the city.

 

Suggested read:

Kolkata Metro Route Map 2024: History, Lines, Stations, Timings & Connected Places

Infrastructure of Chennai Metro

 

The coaches of Chennai Metro are made by rolling stock supplied by a company called Alstom. Chennai initially had no facility to create the coaches themselves . Hence, nine sets of trains were imported from Brazil to make the system operational. There has been a facility set up now in Chennai that makes the train coaches. Alstom provided Chennai with 520 sets of trains each having four coaches. All trains are fully air-conditioned, and the first coach of each train is reserved for women. The trains consume 70 MW of power every day and the electricity supplied by the electricity board of Tamil Nadu. 

 

The 40 metro stations in Chennai are also very well developed with up-to-date facilities. 22 stations out of the 40 are underground. The underground stations are about 200 m wide and 20 feet deep. Just like the Metros, stations are also fully air-conditioned. Lifts and other related facilities are provided for the elderly and disabled people. Announcements are done whenever a train is about to arrive or leave. Parking area is available at every station for two wheelers.

 

Chennai Metro has been successfully serving the people of Chennai with its world class facilities. It has significantly helped the traffic problem that became more and more of an issue due to rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. Many metro lines which are under construction as of now will only help in making this problem better. The nominal ticket price has made it easy for people from all economical backgrounds to travel to important parts of the city. This government initiative has truly worked for the welfare of the people.