• Source:JND

Chennai Metro News: To address rising passenger footfall and peak-hour congestion, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has enhanced train frequency on high-demand sections of Corridor 1 (Blue Line) and added additional services over the past two years, resulting in the introduction of 30 new metro trips across the Chennai Metro network.

“We recently received a new timetable for additional services. From operating 722 trips a day, Chennai Metro Rail now runs 752 trips a day. The train operators are clocking some additional man-hours, but it is within their permissible limits to manage this schedule,” a staff member said, quoted by The Hindu.

The move has helped ease congestion on busy sections such as the Washermanpet-Alandur stretch, which includes several high-footfall stations like Chennai Central, High Court, Washermanpet, Thousand Lights, and Guindy. The Chennai Metro Rail authorities had identified this section via Guindy on Corridor 1 as a high-demand loop due to heavy usage by office-goers and students, making it a key contributor to overall ridership.

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CMRL Update: Revised Train Frequency

  • Chennai Metro’s Phase I and Phase I extension currently spans 54 km across two corridors, with trains running every 6 minutes on weekdays during peak hours between Wimco Nagar and Chennai Airport on Corridor 1.

  • On corridor 2, running between Chennai Central and St Thomas Mount and the inter-corridor service connecting Chennai Central to Chennai Airport via Koyambedu, trains currently operate at a 12-minute frequency. 

    • On the Washermanpet-Alandur stretch, the train frequency was increased from a 3-3-6 minute pattern to a 3-3-3 minute pattern. Officials said the change, though marginal, is expected to significantly benefit commuters, especially during peak office hours.

    CMRL To Begin Trial Runs On Vadapalani-Poonamallee Stretch

    Meanwhile, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is close to finishing construction of a six-kilometre section between Vadapalani and the Poonamallee depot as part of Phase II of the project. Officials said trial runs on the stretch are scheduled to begin by mid-January. 

    Around 4,000 workers are currently engaged in the construction, and the corridor is expected to open for commercial operations by the end of January or in the first week of February. The CMRL has also indicated that the new stretch is expected to significantly reduce travel time and ease traffic congestion, benefiting a large number of daily commuters.


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