Chennai Metro Rail Ltd has decided to move to larger six car trainsets as daily ridership keeps climbing. The agency has begun the process to buy 168 new coaches, which will form 28 trainsets. All existing trains in service today run with four cars.
CMRL has floated a tender for the new order at an estimated cost of 2036 crore rupees excluding taxes and duties. The new fleet will operate along with the current four car trains on the Phase 1 network and its extension. The work covered in the tender includes design, manufacturing, testing, commissioning, supply of spares, special tools, test benches, consumables and training for staff. The package also covers the machinery and equipment needed at Koyambedu Depot to maintain the expanded fleet. According to officials, it will take more than two years for the new trains to arrive.
Ridership Pushes Demand for Longer Trains
Chennai Metro carried 93.27 lakh passengers in October. In both July and September the monthly ridership touched one crore. The growing passenger load has strengthened the case for longer trains, especially during peak travel hours. CMRL currently operates 52 trainsets under Phase 1 and its extension, with each train made up of four cars including two driving motor cars.
Driverless Trains Already on the Way
Earlier in April, CMRL signed a contract for 32 driverless trains with three cars each. The order covers 96 coaches and was awarded to Alstom Transport India at a value of 1538.35 crore rupees. The first of these trains is expected to reach Chennai by February 2027.
Phase Two Prepares for a Major Expansion
The next phase of the Chennai Metro network is set to add 118.9 kilometres of lines and 128 stations. It will include three major corridors:
Corridor 3 from Madhavaram to SIPCOT, stretching 45.8 kilometres.
Corridor 4 from Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass, covering 26.1 kilometres.
Corridor 5 from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur, running 47 kilometres.
The estimated cost of Phase Two is 63246 crore rupees. The proposal is currently moving through the approval process at the central level. CMRL expects the project to be completed by the end of 2028.A Look Back at Phase One
Phase One was developed as a joint venture between the central government and Tamil Nadu with equal share. It covers 45.046 kilometres across two corridors. The first runs from Washermenpet to the airport over 23.085 kilometres. The second runs from Chennai Central to St Thomas Mount over 21.961 kilometres.
