Speed Trial On Vadapalani To Poonamallee Metro Likely By February End

23 Feb 2026 CW Team

The final speed trial for the Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) Corridor Four Phase Two stretch from Vadapalani to Poonamallee Bypass is expected towards the end of the third week of February as part of preparations for regulatory approval. The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) continued statutory inspections on the priority section for a second consecutive day, bringing the project closer to the start of commercial operations. Officials noted that the inspections form a mandatory step before passenger services commence.

Inspections by the CMRS covered the elevated section between Iyyapanthangal and Vadapalani, encompassing eight point five km of the 14.64 km priority corridor. The two day inspection, conducted on February 11 and 12, spanned 11 stations between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani, including key stops such as Porur Junction and Iyyapanthangal. Technical teams examined track geometry and signalling readiness alongside structural elements.

A Chennai Metro Rail release indicated that inspections focused on electrical systems, track alignment and civil infrastructure as part of the mandatory safety clearance process ahead of passenger services. CMRL has decided to prioritise extending services up to Vadapalani rather than commissioning the stretch only until Porur Junction, citing concerns about limited ridership arising from the absence of direct connectivity with the operational Phase One network. Agency teams remained on site to resolve outstanding technical observations.

With statutory checks concluding, officials expect the final certifications to follow the speed trial and the regulatory approval to allow commercial operations to commence in the weeks that follow. The prioritisation of service up to Vadapalani aims to improve early ridership and network integration before further extensions are brought into service. Authorities will issue detailed schedules once the safety clearance report is completed and regulatory sign off has been granted.

Infrastructure Urban

20 Mar 2026

Lemon Tree Hotels Signs Resort In Lonavala Maharashtra

Lemon Tree Hotels Limited (LTHL) has signed a licence agreement for Lemon Tree Resort in Lonavala, Maharashtra, with the asset to be managed by Carnation Hotels Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of LTHL. The resort will offer 50 well appointed rooms and will include a restaurant, banquet, meeting room, swimming pool, spa and fitness centre. The company described the addition as part of its strategy to expand branded resort offerings in key getaway destinations. Lonavala, located in the Sahyadri hills, is a popular leisure destination in western India known for scenic landscapes and a ..

Kalai Chettinad Art And Architecture Festival At The Lotus Palace

The Lotus Palace Chettinad will host Kalai, the Chettinad Art and Architecture Festival, a four-day, three-night immersive celebration of the artistic legacy of Chettinad from three to six April 2026. The event has been organised by Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) and will take place across restored heritage properties in Chettinad. It will be designed to offer guests a layered experience of place, structure and story that connects art, architecture and living traditions. The festival aims to present a confluence of global influences and local aesthetics. Kalai has been curated i..

SJVN Reaches One bn Units At 1,000 MW Bikaner Solar Project

SJVN Limited (SJVN) has reached a milestone with its 1,000 megawatt (MW) Bikaner Solar Power Project by generating one bn units of electricity on 20 March 2026. The achievement underscores the company's role in supplying clean and sustainable energy to the national grid. The generation milestone was recorded within months of the project commencing operations and highlights rapid performance from the new facility. The Bikaner project, located in Bikaner district of Rajasthan, has been developed and implemented by SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL) under the Central Public Sector Undertaking Schem..