CMRL to Open 15.8 km Chennai Metro Phase II in February

08 Jan 2026 CW Team

Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) has revised its rollout strategy for Phase II of the Chennai Metro, deciding to commission the entire 15.8-km stretch between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani directly in February. The move marks a shift from the earlier plan of launching services on a shorter section first and extending them in stages.

Initially, CMRL had proposed to start operations on the Poonamallee Bypass–Porur Junction stretch by the end of January, with services extended to Vadapalani in February. However, officials said the revised approach would allow commuters to benefit from better connectivity from the outset, particularly through linkage with the existing Phase I network at Vadapalani.

Preparatory work for the launch has now entered a critical phase. The first round of inspections by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS), which focused on rolling stock and train systems, has already been completed. The final CMRS inspection, covering station facilities, passenger amenities, and overall operational readiness, is expected to be conducted in the last week of January.

On the infrastructure side, the most significant pending task is the laying of nearly 2 km of track between Porur Junction and Vadapalani, comprising around 1 km each on the up and down lines. CMRL is targeting completion of the down line by January 9 to enable the commencement of trial runs on the section.

To meet the tight timeline, CMRL has ramped up on-ground execution by deploying around 600 workers to expedite track-laying activities. Officials said the coming days will be crucial in determining whether trial operations can begin as scheduled and whether the corridor can be readied in time for the planned February commissioning of Phase II services.

News source: Metro Rail News

Real Estate

04 Aug 2026

LML Realty Launches Cinema Campaign on Industrial Vision

LML Realty has launched a cinema advertising campaign in partnership with PVR INOX across 81 screens in Gurugram and Faridabad, showcasing the brand’s transformation from a mobility icon to an industrial infrastructure developer.The campaign features a cinematic brand film tracing LML’s journey since 1972, beginning with its iconic scooters and highlighting its evolution into creating infrastructure solutions that support India’s manufacturing growth.The film focuses on LML Industrial Park at Jhirka Valley, the company’s flagship industrial development approved under the Haryana Govern..

IIM Ahmedabad Publishes Case Study on HoABL’s Business Model

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has published a case study on The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL), examining the company’s digital-first consumer journey and business model that created India’s branded land category.Titled “HoABL: Ready for Scaling Up”, the case study has been published by the IIMA Case Centre and co-authored by Sourav Borah, Associate Professor of Marketing at IIMA, and Dr Aparna Kansal of IMT Ghaziabad. IIMA case studies are used across management and executive education programmes to help students and business leaders analyse strategic decision..

Advait Energy and MEIL Partner for Energy Transition Projects

Advait Energy Transitions Limited (AETL) and Manipal Energy Infratech Limited (MEIL), a company of The Manipal Group, have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on power and energy transition opportunities across India and international markets.The partnership aims to combine AETL’s expertise in innovative energy technologies and manufacturing with MEIL’s EPC execution capabilities and project management experience. The collaboration will focus on opportunities across Power Transmission & Distribution, Renewable Energy, Battery Energy Storage Systems..