The Red Line or Line 5 is one of the planned lines of Chennai Metro. It is part of the second phase of the project and the under construction line stretches from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur. The 44.6 km (27.7 mi) long line will consist of 45 stations, out of which six will be underground and 39 will be at grade or elevated. A branch line of corridor five, known as Line 5B, from Koyambedu to Pattabiram has been proposed with its Detailed Project Report submitted to Government of Tamilnadu on February 2025, currently awaiting approval. The 21.76 km (13.52 mi) branch line will consist of 19 elevated stations.[1]
Planning and construction
Phase II
The construction of the first phase of Chennai Metro started in June 2009.[2] Commercial operations started on the green line in June 2015.[3][4][5] On 10 February 2019, the extension of blue line was opened, completing the first phase of the metro.[6]
In July 2016, Government of Tamil Nadu announced that the second phase would have three lines totaling 104 km (65 mi) in length with 104 stations.[7][8] Two corridors would extend from Madhavaram connecting with Siruseri and Sholinganallur respectively (lines 3 and 5) with the third corridor connecting Koyambedu with Lighthouse (line 4). The fifth line connecting Madhavaram Milk Colony and Sholinganallur will extend to 47 km (29 mi) of which 41.2 km (25.6 mi) would be elevated and 5.8 km (3.6 mi) underground. It will consist of 48 stations including six undergrounds stations.[9][10] The stations for the second phase were designed to be smaller than the existing stations operational in the first phase.[11]
On 20 November 2020, foundation stone for the second phase was laid and construction commenced.[12] In November 2022, Alstom was awarded the contract to supply metro coaches for the phase II expansion.[13] In May 2023, CMRL announced a revised plan for the second phase revising the station count on the fifth line to 45.[14] As per the final plan, the fourth line will extend for 45.4 km (28.2 mi).[15]
| Line Name | Terminals | Length (km) | Stations | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Line | Madhavaram Milk Colony | Sholinganallur | 44.6 | 45 | Under construction |
The second phase is estimated to cost ₹63,246 crore (US$7.2 billion) of which initially ₹4,710 crore (US$540 million) was loaned by JICA.[9][17][18] On 14 February 2021, Prime Minister of India announced that the government has set aside ₹63,000 crore (US$7.2 billion) for the construction of phase II and further extension.[19] The line is expected to be completed by 2028.[20]
Phase II extension
In 2022, the state government proposed a branch extension for the fifth line from Koyambedu to Avadi, covering an approximate 16.1 km (10.0 mi).[21] In early 2024, feasibility report was submitted by CMRL for the proposed expansion of the line, green lighting the same.[22] It was later decided to extend the line till Pattabiram. Detailed Project Report is prepared and submitted to Government of Tamil Nadu on February 2025, and the project is currently awaiting approval.[1] A depot near Pattabiram stretch of Outer Ring Road is also planned.
| Line | Terminals | Length | Stations | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Line | Koyambedu | Pattabiram | 21.76 km (13.52 mi) | 19 | DPR submitted |
Stations
| Red Line | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.No | Station Name[16] | Expected Opening[23] | Connections | Layout | |
| English | Tamil | ||||
| 1 | Madhavaram Milk Colony | மாதவரம் பால் பண்ணை | December 2026 | Purple Line (Under Construction) | Underground |
| 2 | Madhavaram Depot | மாதவரம் பணிமனை | December 2026 | At-grade | |
| 3 | Assisi Nagar | அசிசி நகர் | December 2026 | Elevated | |
| 4 | Manjambakkam | மஞ்சம்பாக்கம் | December 2026 | Elevated | |
| 5 | Velmurugan Nagar | வேல்முருகன் நகர் | December 2026 | Elevated | |
| 6 | Madhavaram Bus Terminus | மாதவரம் பேருந்து நிலையம் | December 2026 |  Madhavaram Mofussil Bus Terminus
|
Elevated |
| 7 | Shastri Nagar, Chennai | சாஸ்திரி நகர் | December 2026 | Elevated | |
| 8 | Retteri Junction | ரெட்டேரி சந்திப்பு | December 2026 | Elevated | |
| 9 | Kolathur Junction | கொளத்தூர் சந்திப்பு | 2028 | Underground | |
| 10 | Srinivasa Nagar | சீனிவாச நகர் | 2028 | Underground | |
| 11 | Villivakkam | வில்லிவாக்கம் | 2028 |  West Line, Chennai Suburban (Villivakkam)
|
Underground |
| 12 | Villivakkam Bus Terminus | வில்லிவாக்கம் பேருந்து நிலையம் | 2028 | Underground | |
| 13 | Villivakkam MTH Road | வில்லிவாக்கம் எம்.டி.எச் சாலை | 2028 | Underground | |
| 14 | Anna Nagar West | அண்ணா நகர் மேற்கு | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 15 | Thirumangalam | திருமங்கலம் | 2028 | Green Line | Elevated |
| 16 | Anna Nagar KV | அண்ணா நகர் கே.வி | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 17 | Koyambedu | கோயம்பேடு | 2028 | Green Line | Elevated |
| 18 | Koyambedu Market | கோயம்பேடு அங்காடி | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 19 | Natesan Nagar | நடேசன் நகர் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 20 | Virugambakkam | விருகம்பாக்கம் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 21 | Alwarthirunagar | ஆழ்வார்திருநகர் | 2028 | Orange Line (Under Construction) | Elevated |
| 22 | Valasaravakkam | வளசரவாக்கம் | 2028 | Orange Line (Under Construction) | Elevated |
| 23 | Karambakkam | காரம்பாக்கம் | 2028 | Orange Line (Under Construction) | Elevated |
| 24 | Alapakkam Junction | ஆலப்பாக்கம் சந்திப்பு | 2028 | Orange Line (Under Construction) | Elevated |
| 25 | Mugalivakkam | முகலிவாக்கம் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 26 | Ramapuram | ராமாபுரம் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 27 | Manapakkam | மணப்பாக்கம் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 28 | Chennai Trade Centre | சென்னை வர்த்தக மையம் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 29 | Butt Road | பட் சாலை | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 30 | Alandur | ஆலந்தூர் | 2028 | Blue Line Green Line |
Elevated |
| 31 | St. Thomas Mount | பரங்கிமலை | 2028 | Green Line South Line, Chennai Suburban (St. Thomas Mount) Chennai MRTS[§] (St. Thomas Mount)
|
Elevated |
| 32 | Adambakkam | ஆதம்பாக்கம் | 2028 | Chennai MRTS[§] (Adambakkam)
|
Elevated |
| 33 | Vanuvampet | வானுவம்பேட்டை | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 34 | Ullagaram | உள்ளகரம் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 35 | Madipakkam | மடிப்பாக்கம் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 36 | Kilkattalai | கீழ்க்கட்டளை | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 37 | Echangadu | ஈச்சங்காடு | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 38 | Kovilambakkam | கோவிலம்பாக்கம் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 39 | Vellakkal | வெள்ளக்கல் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 40 | Medavakkam I | மேடவாக்கம் I | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 41 | Medavakkam II | மேடவாக்கம் II | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 42 | Perumbakkam | பெரும்பாக்கம் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 43 | Classical Tamil Institute | செம்மொழித் தமிழாய்வு நிறுவனம் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 44 | Elcot | எல்காட் | 2028 | Elevated | |
| 45 | Sholinganallur | சோழிங்கநல்லூர் | 2028 | Purple Line (Under Construction) | Elevated |
§ under construction
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Chennai Metro Rail submits DPR for 21.76 km extension from Koyambedu to Pattabiram". The New Indian Express. 22 February 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ "Work commences on Chennai Metro". Projects Today. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
- ^ "Chennai Metro one stop short of dream run". Deccan Chronicle. 31 August 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ "Conditional clearance for Metro Rail". The Hindu. 28 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Chennai Metro Newsletter - August 2015 (PDF) (Report). Chennai Metro. 29 June 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ Simhan, TE Raja (10 February 2019). "PM Modi inaugurates Chennai Metro Rail's final leg". The Hindu Businessline. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ Sekar, Sunitha (2 August 2016). "1800 km, 180 stations: Unveiling Phase II of Metro". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ Sekar, Sunitha. "Detailed project report for Phase II of Metro Rail ready". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Project status of Chennai Metro". Chennai Metro Rail Limited. Archived from the original on 26 September 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
- ^ "Metro's second phase to go up to Poonamallee". The Hindu. 20 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
- ^ U, Tejonmayam (28 December 2016). "Chennai: Metro rail to trim stations under phase 2". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ "Amit Shah to lay foundation for Chennai Metro's phase II project". The Hindu. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "Alstom wins €98 million contract to design and manufacture 78 metro coaches for Chennai Metro Phase-II" (Press release). Alstom. 11 November 2022. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "Chennai metro scraps nine stations in phase 2". The Times of India. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Phase II– S98 (Anaimalai) TBM Breakthrough at Venugopal Nagar Shaft" (PDF) (Press release). Chennai Metro Rail Limited. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ a b Chennai Metro rail phase II (PDF) (Report). Chennai Metro Rail Limited. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Phase-II Chennai metro project to cost Rs 36,000 cr". Business Standard. 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "JICA extends ODA Loan of INR 4710 Cr for Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase 2 (II)". JICA. 21 June 2022. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ Dipak K, Dash. "Ground work for Chennai metro rail phase-2 hit". Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Metro Rail second phase likely to be completed in six years". The New Indian Express. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ "Detailed feasibility report for Chennai Metro Rail's Phase 2 extension to be ready in three months". The Hindu. 26 March 2023. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ a b "CMRL submits Detailed Feasibility Reports for Phase II project extension". The Financial Express. 22 September 2023. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ Sekar, Sunitha (20 January 2024). "Work on elevated stretches of corridor 5 of Metro Rail phase II project gains momentum". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
|  | |
Depot(s) |
| |
See also | ||
Bold represents terminal station on the respective main or branch line *Stations in italics are Under Construction | ||
