Chennai Metro Guide - Routes, Fares, and Tips

Chennai Metro Guide - Routes, Fares, and Tips

Chennai Metro Rail Limited, an SPV, was incorporated on December 3, 2007, in accordance with the Companies Act. The Tamil Nadu capital city is served by the Chennai Metro rapid metro transit system. The governments of Tamil Nadu and India have equal equity stakes in this joint venture.

India's fourth-longest metro network is the Chennai Metro system, which began service in 2015. As of March 2022, the Chennai Metro had two lines in operation and three lines in development. The responsibility for constructing and managing the Chennai Metro lies with the Chennai Metro Rail Corporation (CMRL). There are both elevated and underground metro stations in the Chennai Metro system. In order to guarantee smooth communication and interoperability, Chennai Metro Rail Corporation intends to assume control of the Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System.

An essential component of the public transport network in the city, the Chennai Metro is a contemporary marvel that links several important sites throughout the expansive metropolis. Since its launch in 2015, the Chennai Metro route has provided commuters with a quick, pleasant, and effective way to get around the busy streets of the city. For many, it has quickly become a lifeline. Important hubs served by the metro network include major train stations, shopping malls, universities, and residential neighborhoods. Explore the nuances of Chennai's metro route with this blog, which promises to provide you with a better grasp of how the city's metro train system operates.

Chennai Metro Lines

There are only two Chennai Metro lines that are currently in service: the Blue Line and the Green Line. Construction is now underway for the Orange, Red, and Purple lines. These future lines will run partially underground and partially above ground.

Blue Line - Chennai Metro

The Blue Line is about 32.6 km and has 26 stations on its route. It starts at Wimco Nagar Depot and ends at Chennai International Airport.

Station Name Connections Inter Corridor Connection Station Type
Wimco Nagar Depot None No Elevated
Wimco Nagar Wimco Nagar railway station No Elevated
Tiruvottriyur Bus Terminus No Elevated
Tiruvottriyur Theradi None No Elevated
Kaladipet None No Elevated
Toll Gate Bus Terminus No Elevated
New Washermanpet None No Elevated
Tondiarpet None No Underground
Sir Theagaraya College None No Underground
Washermanpet Washermanpet railway station No Underground
Mannadi None No Underground
High Court Bus Terminus No Underground
Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Green Line (Line 2), Chennai Central Railway Station, Chennai Park Suburban, Chennai Park Town MRTS, Chennai Moore Market Suburban Yes Underground
Government Estate None No Underground
LIC None No Underground
Thousand Lights Purple Line (Line 3 Chennai metro) No Underground
AG-DMS None No Underground
Teynampet None No Underground
Nandanam Orange Line or Line 4 Chennai metro No Underground
Saidapet None No Underground
Little Mount None No Elevated
Guindy Guindy railway station No Elevated
Arignar Anna Alandur Green Line (Line 2 Chennai metro), Red line (Line 5 Chennai metro) Yes Elevated
Nanganallur Road None Yes Elevated
Meenambakkam Meenambakkam railway station Yes Elevated
Chennai International Airport Tirusulam Railway Station and Chennai International Airport Yes Elevated

Green Line - Chennai Metro

The Green Line spans 22 Km and has 17 stopings of which 8 are elevated and 9 are underground. It starts from Chennai Central Railway Station and goes all the way up to St Thomas Mount.

Station Name Connections Inter Corridor Connection Station Type
Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Blue Line, Mainline rail interchange Yes Underground
Egmore Mainline rail interchange Yes Underground
Nehru Park None Yes Underground
Kilpauk Medical College Purple Line Yes Underground
Pachaiyappa's College None Yes Underground
Shenoy Nagar None Yes Underground
Anna Nagar East None Yes Underground
Anna Nagar Tower None Yes Underground
Thirumangalam None Yes Underground
Koyambedu None Yes Elevated
Puratchi Thalaivi Dr. J. Jayalalithaa CMBT Bus interchange Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus Yes Elevated
Arumbakkam None Yes Elevated
Vadapalani None Yes Elevated
Ashok Nagar None Yes Elevated
Ekkattuthangal None Yes Elevated
Arignar Anna Alandur Blue Line, Red Line Yes Elevated
St. Thomas Mount Red Line, Mainline rail interchange No Elevated

However, the Purple Line that stretches 45.8 km (Madhavaram Milk Colony – Siruseri Sipcot 2), Orange Line 26.1km (Lighthouse – Poonamallee Bypass), and Red Line 47 Km (Madhavaram Milk Colony – Sholinganallur) are under construction stage.

Fares and timing

The fare ranges from ₹10 at the minimum to ₹50 at the maximum. For travel in the Chennai Metro, CMRL offers six different types of tickets, the prices of which are determined by the customers' total distance traveled. The Chennai Metro is open from 4:30 AM. to 11:00 PM. In peak hours, one train departs every seven minutes, while in off-peak hours, one departs every fourteen minutes.

Online Ticket

Online Booking via CMRL Website

Start by visiting the CMRL Online Ticketing portal.

• Input your starting and ending stations.

• Provide your Mobile Number.

• Choose the type of ticket you require.

• Select the number of tickets you need.

• Review the total fare and proceed to payment.

WhatsApp Method

• Begin by sending “Hi” to the CMRL WhatsApp number.

• Choose your preferred language.

• Select “book your ticket” from the menu.

• Specify your boarding and alighting stations.

• Decide on the number of tickets you wish to book.

• Confirm your travel details, then proceed to payment. You can use UPI, debit or credit cards, and digital wallets.

• After successful payment, you will receive a QR ticket.

Easily book in the mobile application

To simplify travel for metro passengers, Chennai Metro Rail Limited has released a smartphone app. Users of the smartphone app can quickly obtain route information, including fare, travel time, amenities offered at each metro station, tourist attractions near a selected metro station, etc. Users can also get the contact information for their desired metro stop by using the smartphone application. You can download the Chennai Metro mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Chennai Metro Facts

Chennai Metro's first phase, the Blue Line, was opened for service on September 21, 2016, with construction having started in 2009. The project's first phase was designed to link important parts of the city.

Chennai Metro to get its first driverless train soon

Trains in the system operate either underground or on elevated viaducts; there are no at-grade tracks.

At 54 km, it is the fourth-longest metro system in India.

Chennai Metro uses overhead catenary with a 25-kilovolt alternating current and 1,435 mm standard gauge tracks.

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