The Red Line or Line 5 is one of the planned lines of Chennai Metro. It is part of the second phase of the project and the under construction line stretches from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur. The 44.6 km (27.7 mi) long line will consist of 45 stations, out of which six will be underground and 39 will be at grade or elevated. A branch line of corridor five from Koyambedu to Avadi has been proposed with detailed project report preparation expected to be completed by January 2025.
The construction of the first phase of Chennai Metro started in June 2009.[1] Commercial operations started on the green line in June 2015.[2][3][4] On 10 February 2019, the extension of blue line was opened, completing the first phase of the metro.[5]
In July 2016, Government of Tamil Nadu announced that the second phase would have three lines totaling 104 km (65 mi) in length with 104 stations.[6][7] Two corridors would extend from Madhavaram connecting with Siruseri and Sholinganallur respectively (lines 3 and 5) with the third corridor connecting Koyambedu with Lighthouse (line 4). The fifth line connecting Madhavaram Milk Colony and Sholinganallur will extend to 47 km (29 mi) of which 41.2 km (25.6 mi) would be elevated and 5.8 km (3.6 mi) underground. It will consist of 48 stations including six undergrounds stations.[8][9] The stations for the second phase were designed to be smaller than the existing stations operational in the first phase.[10]
On 20 November 2020, foundation stone for the second phase was laid and construction commenced.[11] In November 2022, Alstom was awarded the contract to supply metro coaches for the phase II expansion.[12] In May 2023, CMRL announced a revised plan for the second phase revising the station count on the fifth line to 45.[13] As per the final plan, the fourth line will extend for 45.4 km (28.2 mi).[14]
Line Name | Terminals | Length (km) | Stations | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red Line | Madhavaram Milk Colony | Sholinganallur | 44.6 | 45 | Under construction |
The second phase is estimated to cost ₹63,246 crore (US$7.6 billion) of which initially ₹4,710 crore (US$560 million) was loaned by JICA.[8][16][17] On 14 February 2021, Prime Minister of India announced that the government has set aside ₹63,000 crore (US$7.5 billion) for the construction of phase II and further extension.[18] The line is expected to be completed by 2028.[19]
In 2022, the state government proposed a branch extension for the fifth line from Koyambedu to Avadi, covering an approximate 16.1 km (10.0 mi).[20] In early 2024, feasibility report was submitted by CMRL for the proposed expansion of the line, green lighting the same.[21] Detailed project report is under preparation, which is expected to be completed by November 2024.[22]
Line | Terminals | Length | Stations | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red Line | Koyambedu | Avadi | 16.1 km (10.0 mi) | 15 | DPR to be prepared |
Red Line | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S.No | Station Name[15] | Connections | Layout | Opened | |
English | Tamil | ||||
1 | Madhavaram Milk Colony | மாதவரம் பால் பண்ணை | Purple Line[§] | Underground | Under construction |
2 | Madhavaram Depot | மாதவரம் பணிமனை | At-grade | ||
3 | Assisi Nagar | அசிசி நகர் | Elevated | ||
4 | Manjambakkam | மஞ்சம்பாக்கம் | |||
5 | Velmurugan Nagar | வேல்முருகன் நகர் | |||
6 | Madhavaram Bus Terminus | மாதவரம் பேருந்து நிலையம் | Madhavaram Mofussil Bus Terminus | ||
7 | Shastri Nagar, Chennai | சாஸ்திரி நகர் | |||
8 | Retteri Junction | ரெட்டேரி சந்திப்பு | |||
9 | Kolathur Junction | கொளத்தூர் சந்திப்பு | Underground | ||
10 | Srinivasa Nagar | சீனிவாச நகர் | |||
11 | Villivakkam | வில்லிவாக்கம் | West Line, Chennai Suburban (Villivakkam) | ||
12 | Villivakkam Bus Terminus | வில்லிவாக்கம் பேருந்து நிலையம் | |||
13 | Villivakkam MTH Road | வில்லிவாக்கம் எம்.டி.எச் சாலை | |||
14 | Anna Nagar West | அண்ணா நகர் மேற்கு | Elevated | ||
15 | Thirumangalam | திருமங்கலம் | Green Line | 15 May 2017 | |
16 | Anna Nagar KV | அண்ணா நகர் கே.வி | Under construction | ||
17 | Koyambedu | கோயம்பேடு | Green Line | 29 June 2015 | |
18 | Koyambedu Market | கோயம்பேடு அங்காடி | Under construction | ||
19 | Natesan Nagar | நடேசன் நகர் | |||
20 | Virugambakkam | விருகம்பாக்கம் | |||
21 | Alwarthirunagar | ஆழ்வார்திருநகர் | Orange Line[§] | ||
22 | Valasaravakkam | வளசரவாக்கம் | |||
23 | Karambakkam | காரம்பாக்கம் | |||
24 | Alapakkam Junction | ஆலப்பாக்கம் சந்திப்பு | |||
25 | Mugalivakkam | முகலிவாக்கம் | |||
26 | Ramapuram | ராமாபுரம் | |||
27 | Manapakkam | மணப்பாக்கம் | |||
28 | Chennai Trade Centre | சென்னை வர்த்தக மையம் | |||
29 | Butt Road | பட் சாலை | |||
30 | Alandur | ஆலந்தூர் | Blue Line Green Line |
29 June 2015 | |
31 | St. Thomas Mount | பரங்கிமலை | Green Line South Line, Chennai Suburban (St. Thomas Mount) Chennai MRTS[§] (St. Thomas Mount) |
14 October 2016 | |
32 | Adambakkam | ஆதம்பாக்கம் | Chennai MRTS[§] (Adambakkam) | Under construction | |
33 | Vanuvampet | வானுவம்பேட்டை | |||
34 | Ullagaram | உள்ளகரம் | |||
35 | Madipakkam | மடிப்பாக்கம் | |||
36 | Kilkattalai | கீழ்க்கட்டளை | |||
37 | Echangadu | ஈச்சங்காடு | |||
38 | Kovilambakkam | கோவிலம்பாக்கம் | |||
39 | Vellakkal | வெள்ளக்கல் | |||
40 | Medavakkam I | மேடவாக்கம் I | |||
41 | Medavakkam II | மேடவாக்கம் II | |||
42 | Perumbakkam | பெரும்பாக்கம் | |||
43 | Classical Tamil Institute | செம்மொழித் தமிழாய்வு நிறுவனம் | |||
44 | Elcot | எல்காட் | |||
45 | Sholinganallur | சோழிங்கநல்லூர் | Purple Line |
§ under construction