Chennai Metro Phase 2 gets record ₹8,445 Cr allocation, Leads all Indian Metro projects

Chennai, India (Metro Rail Today): In a historic first, Chennai Metro Rail has received the highest allocation among all metro projects in the country, with a whopping ₹8,445.8 crore sanctioned for Phase II in the current financial year, according to an RTI response. This amount accounts for nearly one-fourth of India’s total metro outlay of ₹31,755 crore, marking a significant boost to the city’s transit infrastructure.

The major increase in funding follows the Centre’s October 2024 approval to treat Chennai Metro Phase II as a centrally-assisted project, ending more than three years of financial uncertainty that forced Tamil Nadu to bear the funding burden alone.

Until then, the state government struggled with delays in clearing contractor bills, typically ranging from ₹20 crore for elevated stretches to ₹40 crore for underground segments, due to constraints on its debt ceiling and competing infrastructure priorities. A senior official from Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) confirmed that since central funding began, there have been no funding issues, enabling smoother progress.

Long-Stalled Airport–Kilambakkam Metro Extension Gets State Nod

In a parallel development, the Tamil Nadu government has approved the long-pending Airport–Kilambakkam metro corridor, a 15.4 km stretch estimated at ₹9,335 crore. This project, part of the Phase I extension, had been stuck for over five years due to multiple design revisions and delays in approval.

The final plan proposes a dual-layer structure along GST Road, featuring an elevated road at level one and metro tracks at level two — a complex engineering solution designed to optimize urban space while meeting the growing transit needs of the region.

Central clearance for the Kilambakkam extension is expected soon, and the green light from the state follows widespread criticism over delays in progressing the much-needed line, especially as transit demand in the southern suburbs continues to rise rapidly.

A Game-Changer for Chennai’s Urban Mobility

With central support now secured, Chennai Metro’s Phase II — covering over 118 km — is poised to become a flagship infrastructure project, significantly enhancing connectivity and reducing urban congestion across the metropolitan area.

The substantial funding marks a turning point for urban transport in Tamil Nadu, reaffirming the Centre's commitment to fast-tracking critical mobility projects across the country.