Chennai Metro
| Chennai Metro | |||
|---|---|---|---|
A metro train at Guindy station on the Blue Line | |||
Map of Chennai's urban rail network with operational, under-construction and planned lines | |||
| Overview | |||
| Owner | Chennai Metro Rail Limited | ||
| Locale | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| Transit type | Rapid transit | ||
| Number of lines | 2 (operational) 3 (under construction) | ||
| Line number | Operational
| ||
| Number of stations | 41 | ||
| Annual ridership | 105.24 million (2024) | ||
| Key people | Katikithala Srinivas, IAS (Chairman) M.A. Siddique, IAS (Managing Director) | ||
| Headquarters | MetroS, Anna Salai, Nandanam, Chennai | ||
| Website | chennaimetrorail | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | 29 June 2015 | ||
| Operator(s) | Chennai Metro Rail Limited | ||
| Number of vehicles | 52 | ||
| Train length | 100 m (330 ft) | ||
| Headway | 6–12 minutes | ||
| Technical | |||
| System length | 54.1 km (33.6 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead line | ||
| Top speed | 120 km/h (75 mph) | ||
| |||
The Chennai Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Chennai, India. It is operated by Chennai Metro Rail Limited, a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu. As of December 2025, the network consists of two operational lines spanning 54.1 km (33.6 mi) and has 41 underground and elevated stations. The system runs on standard gauge and is powered by 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead electric lines.
Plans for a metro rail system for Chennai started in 2007–08 with construction commencing in February 2009. Test runs began in 2014, and the first segment of the metro between the Alandur and Koyambedu stations on the Green Line began operations on 29 June 2015. On 21 September 2016, operations on the Blue Line commenced between Chennai Airport and Little Mount. The underground stretch from AG-DMS to Washermanpet of the Blue Line opened on 10 February 2019, completing the first phase.
As a part of the second phase, three more lines covering a length of 118.9 km (73.9 mi) are planned and are under construction. The Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), operated by the Indian Railways, is planned to be incorporated into the Chennai Metro. A light rail has been proposed to connect Tambaram on the Chennai suburban rail network with Velachery on the MRTS. Further extensions are also planned for the three lines under construction.