TN pushes Centre to approve three Chennai Metro extension projects, says Finance Minister

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson on Wednesday said the State government is actively pursuing the Centre's approval for three Chennai Metro Rail extension projects. The Minister's statement comes ahead of the detailed appraisal of the projects by central bodies, marking a crucial step in the city's mass transit expansion.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Wilson said the three proposed stretches have been recommended by the State government and are now under the active consideration of the Government of India. The projects include the Chennai airport to Kilambakkam corridor, estimated at ₹9,335 crore; the Koyambedu to Pattabiram stretch via Avadi, costing ₹9,744 crore; and the Poonamallee to Sunguvarchathiram line via Sriperumbudur, with an outlay of ₹8,779 crore.

The detailed project reports (DPRs) for these extensions were forwarded to the Centre last year. They have since been reviewed by the Network Planning Group (NPG), a body that evaluates infrastructure proposals for synergy and feasibility. According to sources, the projects must still receive clearance from the NITI Aayog and the Public Investment Board before final approval by the Union Cabinet.

The Minister also provided an update on the ongoing Phase II of the Chennai Metro, which spans 118.9 km and is estimated to cost ₹63,246 crore upon completion. He said the work is progressing in full swing, and the first stretch from Poonamallee Bypass to Porur Junction, connecting the Vadapalani station (14.64 km), is scheduled to be commissioned for public use shortly.

In addition, the Tamil Nadu government has been taking up with the Centre and the Karnataka government its proposal to extend Metro Rail connectivity from Hosur in Krishnagiri district to Bommasandra in Karnataka. This cross-state initiative, if approved, would link the industrial belt of Tamil Nadu with Bengaluru's southern suburbs.

These extension projects are seen as vital to easing congestion on key arterial roads in Chennai and its suburbs, particularly along the Grand Southern Trunk Road and Chennai-Bengaluru Highway. Once completed, they are expected to benefit lakhs of daily commuters, including those travelling to the expanding IT and manufacturing hubs west of the city.

Metro rail expansion has been a top priority for the Tamil Nadu government, which has repeatedly underscored the need for central funding and expeditious clearances. The Minister's remarks indicate that the State is keen to move the projects through the approval pipeline at the earliest.