Chennai, October 8:
DMK president MK Stalin on Wednesday asserted that his party’s contribution to the establishment and expansion of the Chennai Metro Rail network would remain an indelible part of the city’s history, as the Poonamallee–Porur–Vadapalani stretch is scheduled to open to the public on October 11.
Drawing a parallel with Valluvar Kottam, Stalin said the DMK’s role in bringing the Metro Rail project to Chennai could not be erased. Recalling the origins of the project, he said it was conceived during the tenure of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, when Stalin was Deputy Chief Minister.
Stalin said he had travelled to Japan to secure funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the project. The first phase subsequently connected important transport hubs, including Chennai airport, Chennai Central and Koyambedu, significantly strengthening the city’s public transport network.
He also recalled the role played by Metro Rail services during the December 2015 floods, when the network helped lakhs of people reach safer locations.
Criticising the previous AIADMK government, Stalin alleged that it had initially sought to replace the Metro Rail project with a monorail system. He said work on the second phase had slowed down before the DMK returned to power in 2021, after which the project was expedited.
Stalin said that, despite delays in the release of the Centre’s share of funding for more than three years, the State continued to finance the project. According to figures cited by him, as of September 2024, the government had spent Rs 11,762 crore from its own funds and Rs 6,802 crore through foreign financial institutions, taking the total to Rs 18,564 crore.
He said he had repeatedly urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release the Centre’s share under the originally agreed 50:50 funding model, which was accepted in October 2024.
The Poonamallee–Porur–Vadapalani stretch had initially been targeted for completion by the end of 2025. However, delays in Railway Board approval for signalling works and the subsequent Model Code of Conduct prevented its inauguration during the DMK’s tenure, Stalin said.
The opening of the stretch is expected to improve connectivity in western Chennai, while the political debate over the contributions of successive governments to the Metro Rail project continues.