Porur-Poonamallee Metro stretch will be operational by 2025: Stalin

CHENNAI: The Poonamallee–Porur stretch of Chennai Metro Rail's phase II project will be operational by the end of 2025, chief minister M K Stalin said on Thursday after inspecting tunnelling work in Adyar."I was elated to witness our vision taking shape. Once completed, Chennai will set new standards in connectivity and urban mobility," Stalin said, urging Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to expedite work in the remaining sections of phase II.A tunnel boring machine (TBM) working on the second tunnel between the proposed Greenways Road and Adyar Metro stations achieved a breakthrough in Adyar on Thursday. Two TBMs, ‘Kaveri’ and ‘Adyar,’ began excavating 1.2km tunnels in February 2023. ‘Kaveri’ completed its run in September 2024, while ‘Adyar’ faced delays due to hard rock in the final 300metre stretch and tunnelling under the Adyar river.Stalin posted on X that after delays under the previous administration, his govt took the lead in implementing phase II, making Tamil Nadu the first state to self-fund metro expansion. He added that with the recently approved Union contribution, “work is moving faster”. He urged the Centre to swiftly approve metro rail projects for Coimbatore and Madurai.