Chennai commuters eager to experience driverless metro trains will have to wait longer, as CMRL has confirmed that the first set of trains on the Poonamallee-Porur stretch of Phase-2 will be operated by a driver when services begin in late 2025.While CMRL had initially announced driverless operations, officials now state that automated trains will only begin next year, likely when services extend from Porur to Vadapalani. The decision follows a similar approach taken in Delhi Metro, where operators were present initially before transitioning to full automation.
Trials are currently underway at the Poonamallee depot, with testing along the viaduct set to begin soon. Officials note that driverless operations require extensive testing, including six months of UTO (Unattended Train Operation) trials, followed by integrated testing and certification.
The Poonamallee-Porur section is part of Corridor 4 (Lighthouse-Poonamallee), and once extended to Kodambakkam via Vadapalani, driverless operations may be introduced. Until then, commuters will have to wait to experience Chennaiās first fully automated metro ride.