CM Vijay takes first Metro ride with public, inspects project progress

Chennai Metro passengers saw an unusual co-passenger on Wednesday morning. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay boarded a train at Central station, swiped his own token at the gate, and rode to Egmore station alongside regular commuters. It was his first time taking the Metro with the general public.

The chief minister stood in the standard coach, holding the overhead rail as the train moved. Commuters around him, some initially startled, quickly pulled out phones to capture the moment. Officials accompanying him said he wanted to experience the service exactly as a daily passenger does.

On-board interaction and feedback

During the three-station journey, CM Vijay spoke with passengers about frequency of trains, cleanliness, and the ease of buying tickets. Several commuters told him the gap between trains during non-peak hours could be shorter. He asked officials to look into the suggestion.

At Egmore station, he spent time at the ticket counter and the automatic vending machines. He also checked the platform indicators and the general condition of the station. A senior official from Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) briefed him on daily ridership numbers and maintenance schedules.

Phase 2 inspection at key sites

After the ride, the chief minister visited multiple construction sites along the phase 2 corridor. He inspected tunnel boring work near Poonamallee, where two machines are currently operating. Engineers explained the progress beneath the busy road junction.

At Porur, CM Vijay walked through a section of the elevated viaduct. He reviewed the casting of segments and the erection of piers. Officials said the Porur stretch is expected to be among the first to open in phase 2. The chief minister stressed the need to stick to the timeline without compromising on quality.

Review meeting and future targets

Later in the day, the chief minister chaired a review meeting at the CMRL headquarters. He was briefed on the overall progress of phase 2, which spans over 100 km across three corridors. The project is expected to cost more than Rs 60,000 crore.

Officials presented a detailed timeline for the next 12 months: completion of tunneling under the Cooum river, finishing of stations at Koyambedu and Alandur, and the start of track laying on the elevated sections. CM Vijay asked for a monthly progress report and a public dashboard showing milestones achieved.

What to watch

CMRL is expected to announce the opening of the first phase 2 segment — between Porur and Alandur — within six months. The chief minister's direct inspection signals that the state government will closely monitor deadlines.