Tamil Nadu Government Allocates ₹2,126 Crore as First Fund for Metro Rail Jobs

The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned a budget of ₹2,126 crore for preparatory work on a new metro line that will connect Chennai with the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur. The allocation covers ₹1,836 crore for land acquisition and ₹252 crore for preliminary civil works, paving the way for the project’s first phase up to Sunguvarchatram.

The new line is planned as an extension of Corridor 4 (Lighthouse–Poonamallee) and will be developed in two phases, according to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by Aarvee Associates Engineers and Consultants.

• Phase I: A 28-km elevated stretch from Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram, featuring 14 stations at key locations such as Chembarambakkam, Sriperumbudur, and the Kuthambakkam bus terminus.
• Phase II: A further extension from Sunguvarchatram to the Parandur airport.

An official from the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) noted that the phased rollout is deliberate: “By the time Phase I is complete, the airport will be ready, making it easier to link the metro to Parandur in Phase II.”

Trains on the corridor are expected to run at 80 km/h, with speeds potentially exceeding 100 km/h on the longer Sunguvarchatram–Parandur stretch.

The overall cost of the 53-km corridor is estimated at ₹15,906 crore, with Phase I accounting for ₹8,779 crore. The project will also integrate with the NHAI’s proposed elevated corridor between Poonamallee and Sriperumbudur.