Tamil Nadu Govt Allocates ₹2,126 Crore for Metro Link to Parandur Airport.

The Tamil Nadu government has approved a budget of ₹2,126 crore for preparatory work on a new metro line that will connect the city to the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur. The funding will support the first phase of the project, which will extend metro connectivity up to Sunguvarchatram.

According to a government order, ₹1,836 crore has been allocated for land acquisition, with an additional ₹252 crore set aside for preliminary civil work. The new line is an extension of Corridor 4, which currently runs from Lighthouse to Poonamallee.

The detailed project report (DPR) for the entire 53-kilometer elevated corridor, submitted by Aarvee Associates Engineers and Consultants, outlines a two-phase construction plan. The first phase, a 28-kilometer stretch, will connect Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram, featuring 14 stations, including key areas like Chembarambakkam, Sriperumbudur, and the Kuthambakkam bus terminus. The second phase will link Sunguvarchatram to the Parandur airport.

An official from the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) stated that the phased approach is strategic. "When we complete Phase I, the airport in Parandur will have taken shape, and it will be easier to plan the second phase to establish the link to Parandur from the city," the official said. The official also mentioned that trains on the new line could operate at speeds of up to 80 km/h, with the potential to exceed 100 km/h on the longer stretch between Sunguvarchatram and Parandur.

The total estimated cost for the entire 53-kilometer corridor is ₹15,906 crore, with Phase I alone costing ₹8,779 crore. The CMRL also plans to integrate this new corridor with the National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI) proposed elevated corridor between Poonamallee and Sriperumbudur.