CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday announced that it has proposed three Chennai Metro Rail extensions to the Centre as part of its urban transport expansion plans, even as the first operational stretch of the Phase-2 project between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani is set to be inaugurated soon.Presenting the 2026-27 Budget, finance minister N Marie Wilson said the state had submitted proposals for the Airport-Kilambakkam, Koyambedu-Pattabiram and Poonamallee-Sunguvarchatram metro corridors.The minister said the govt would take all necessary steps to secure the Union govt’s approval for the three projects at the earliest.The Poonamallee-Sunguvarchatram corridor is the first phase of the proposed metro extension to Parandur, while the Airport-Kilambakkam line is expected to improve connectivity to Chennai’s southern suburbs and the Kilambakkam bus terminus. The Koyambedu-Pattabiram corridor will extend metro connectivity to the city’s western suburbs.The announcement comes as Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) advances work on the 118.1km Phase-2 project. In the Budget, the minister said the 14.6km Poonamallee Bypass-Vadapalani stretch, the first operational section of Phase-2, would be inaugurated soon.
