Chennai Metro Phase II to Boost Connectivity to Western Suburbs

12 Sep 2025 CW Team

Chennai’s Metro expansion towards the western suburbs is set to transform daily commuting for thousands of residents.

By 2030, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) plans to extend the Phase II corridor from Koyambedu to Pattabiram, passing through Ambattur and Avadi. The project will integrate three state highway flyovers and a new multi-modal transit hub at Avadi, according to reports.

The 22 km corridor is part of the Rs 632.46 billion Phase II initiative, funded through a combination of central and state allocations, along with multilateral loans from institutions including JICA and AFD. It is aimed at improving connectivity to areas heavily reliant on suburban rail.

For residents of Tiruvallur, Tiruttani, and Arakkonam, who currently depend on suburban trains to reach the city centre, the extension will offer direct metro access to Chennai Central, Egmore, and the airport via the Koyambedu interchange.

State Highways Chief Engineer S Jawahar Muthuraj confirmed that the metro viaduct will share pillars with three flyovers planned along the Chennai–Tiruttani Highway (CTH). “The pillars will be common for both the metro viaduct and flyovers. Land acquisition is underway,” he stated. This integration is intended to streamline construction and reduce costs.

In parallel, CMRL will issue a separate tender to relocate underground utilities such as pipelines and power cables, preventing potential delays. Project Director T Archunan noted, “We have decided to divide the contract and complete preliminary work first,” citing previous setbacks in Virugambakkam under Corridor 5.

Avadi, with its bus terminus and railway station located along CTH Road, has been designated as a multi-modal hub where suburban trains, buses, and the metro will converge. Officials added that discussions regarding its development will commence shortly.

Infrastructure Urban

03 Oct 2025

Indian REITs Association Joins Global REIT Alliance

The Indian REITs Association (IRA) has become a member of the Global REIT Alliance, a coalition representing the global Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) sector. The alliance, launched at the European Public Real Estate Association’s 2025 ReThink conference in Stockholm, aims to promote cross-border cooperation, policy dialogue, and market standardisation for the growth of REITs as an investment asset class.The Global REIT Alliance, which includes members from 24 countries, focuses on promoting global awareness of securitised real estate, supporting sustainable investment, providing indust..

Vande Bharat May Soon Connect Chennai and Rameswaram

Southern Railway plans to introduce a Vande Bharat Express between Chennai and Rameswaram following the completion of electrification on the 53-km Ramanathapuram–Rameswaram section.A proposal has been submitted to the Railway Board to operate the new daytime service from either Chennai Egmore or Tambaram, aiming to ease congestion on existing overnight trains along the 600–660 km route.Officials noted that while the section is cleared for electric locomotives, a 220-metre gap near Uchipuli will undergo trials before the Vande Bharat is introduced. The final route will consider travel time,..

RITES Partners with Etihad Rail to Boost Infrastructure Collaboration

RITES, a leading transport infrastructure consultancy and engineering firm, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UAE-based Etihad Rail to enhance business collaboration with its subsidiary, National Infrastructure Construction Company (NICC).The partnership aims to combine RITES’ five decades of expertise in consultancy, transport infrastructure, and engineering with NICC’s execution capabilities, creating synergies for infrastructure projects across the UAE and other regions.The MoU was signed by HE Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Rahul Mithal, Chairman and Managing Di..