The Union government has approved the purchase of additional six-coach trains for the Chennai Metro Rail, with a total investment of Rs 2,820.90 crore. This move comes in response to the sharp increase in ridership observed in 2024.Currently, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) operates four-coach trains across the city from 5 am to 11 pm daily. In recent months, the Metro has seen a significant spike in ridership, with the average monthly ridership crossing three lakh passengers. Notably, July alone saw an 11 lakh increase in ridership compared to June.
To accommodate this growing demand, CMRL sought approval from the State government to purchase additional trains. The request was forwarded to the Centre’s Department of Economic Affairs, which subsequently approved the acquisition of 28 new six-coach Metro trains at the specified cost.
As it stands, CMRL operates 45 Metro trains with four coaches, covering a network of 54 kilometers throughout Chennai. The addition of the new six-coach trains is expected to enhance capacity and improve service frequency, catering to the city’s expanding public transportation needs.