Chennai Metro Rail Limited

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Last edited December 16, 2025


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Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is a centre-state joint venture that built and operates the Chennai Metro. It was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Chennai. CMRL is also involved in the planning and implementation of other metro rail and monorail projects in Tamil Nadu.

History

Government of Tamil Nadu approved the Chennai Metro project in November 2007. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), a SPV was established in December 2007 as a joint venture between the Government of India and Government of Tamil Nadu, and is headquartered in Chennai.[1][2] In June 2015, commercial operations of the Chennai metro started and the first phase was completed by February 2019.[3][4] Since 2019, CMRL is involved in the construction of the second phase of the Chennai metro.[5][6]

Administration and operations

CMRL is headquartered at MetroS building in Anna Salai, Nandanam.[7][8] The company is headed by a board consisting of 12 directors, five nominated by Government of India including the chairman, five nominated by Government of Tamil Nadu including the Managing director and two full time operational directors.[9][1] The main operational control center (OCC) is located in Koyambedu where the movement of trains and real-time CCTV footage obtained is monitored.[10] Template:As of, CMRL operates two colour-coded lines covering a length of Template:Cvt.[11][12] Chennai Metro maintains depots at Koyambedu and Wimco Nagar, which house maintenance workshops, stabling lines, test tracks and washing plant for the trains.[13][14][15]

Financials[16]
Financial Year (FY) 2021-22 2022-23
Revenue (₹Cr) 210.85 486.55
Operating income (₹Cr) 129.22 272.26
Net profit (₹Cr) −85.79 −34.03
Profit before tax (₹Cr) −722.98 −566.74

Other projects

CMRL will take over Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) system from Southern Railway once the under construction expansion of MRTS is complete.[17] It is also involved in the planning of light rail and extension of metro in Chennai.[18][19][20] CMRL also undertakes other projects including the development of metro rail transport in the cities of Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirapalli.[21]

CMRL developed the Kathipara Urban Square as a multi-modal transport hub with parking and recreational areas.[22] In 2023, it proposed the development of Central Square around its headquarters with commercial complexes and multi-storied buildings.[23] In April 2025, CMRL announced that it has identified public spaces in Adyar and Velachery which would be transformed into public utility spaces similar to the Kathipara Urban Square.[24] In August 2025, it launched a beautification project covering Chennai’s Broken Bridge and nearby areas. The proposed plan also included developing the areas beneath the Indira Nagar MRTS station and the rail over bridge near Velachery railway station into public utility spaces.[25]

Systems

Operational

System Locale Lines Stations Length[26] Opened Annual ridership (2024)
Operational Under Construction[20] Planned[19][27]
Chennai Metro Chennai 5 212 Template:Cvt[28] Template:Cvt Template:Cvt 29 June 2015 105.24 million[29]

In development

Template:Updated Template:Legend inline

System Locale Lines Stations Length (planned)
Coimbatore Metro Coimbatore[21][30] 2 40[31] Template:Cvt
Madurai Metro Madurai[21][30] 1 20[32] Template:Cvt
Tiruchirappalli Metro Tiruchirapalli[21][33] 1 15 Template:Cvt

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Centre to have equal say as state in Chennai metro rail. The Economic Times(25 April 2009). Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  2. ↑ Chennai Metro Rail FAQ. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  3. ↑ Template:Cite report
  4. ↑ PM Modi inaugurates Chennai Metro Rail's final leg. The Hindu Businessline(10 February 2019). Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  5. ↑ 1800 km, 180 stations: Unveiling Phase II of Metro. The Hindu(2 August 2016). Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  6. ↑ Detailed project report for Phase II of Metro Rail ready. The Hindu. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  7. ↑ About us. Chennai Metro Rail Limited(19 November 2015). Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  8. ↑ New Nandanam metro rail HQ to be inaugurated this month. The Times of India(15 September 2022). Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named SM
  10. ↑ High tech control room for Chennai metro. Deccan Chronicle(26 July 2014). Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  11. ↑ Chennai Metro, line map. Chennai Metro Rail Limited. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  12. ↑ Single train trip to equal 160 buses, 3000 cars and 6000 bikes. The Hindu(29 August 2012). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  13. ↑ CMRL takes the fight to birds. The Hindu(5 September 2017). Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  14. ↑ Chennai Metro to get a second depot. The Hindu(16 July 2014). Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  15. ↑ Metro Rail extension gathers pace. The Hindu(5 May 2018). Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AR
  17. ↑ Chennai: With Metro coaches and modern stations, MRTS set for big upgrade. The New Indian Express(3 January 2018). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  18. ↑ Proposed Metrolite line likely to be rubber-tyred. The New Indian Express(7 November 2020). Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Work on 15-km Metro line from airport to Kilambakkam in Chennai suburbs may begin this year. The New Indian Express(23 February 2021). Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 CMRL submits Detailed Feasibility Reports for Phase II project extension. The Financial Express(22 September 2023). Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 CMRL to do a feasibility study for building mass rapid transit in three cities. The Hindu(22 March 2022). Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  22. ↑ Chennai's Kathipara Urban Square inaugurated, Selvarajan, Gautham(17 December 2021). Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  23. ↑ Chennai Metro Rail Limited plans to build 27-storey building at Central Square. The Hindu(27 September 2023). Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  24. ↑ On the lines of Kathipara Urban Square, Chennai Metro Rail plans vibrant spaces in Adyar, Velachery. The Hindu(27 April 2025). Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  25. ↑ CMRL to beautify Broken Bridge area, other iconic locations. DT next(4 August 2025). Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  26. ↑ Project Status. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  27. ↑ Work on 15-km Metro line from airport to Kilambakkam in Chennai suburbs may begin this year. The New Indian Express(23 February 2021). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  28. ↑ PM Modi inaugurates Chennai Metro Rail’s final leg. Business Line(10 February 2019). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  29. ↑ 10.52 crore passengers travelled in Chennai Metro Train in 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 CMRL puts Madurai and Coimbatore Metro plans on fast track, Sampath, Nirupa(25 November 2024). Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  31. ↑ Coimbatore city to get its own Metrolite. The Hindu(5 April 2022). Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  32. ↑ Madurai metro: CMRL submits feasibility report, three things to know. The News Minute(2 February 2023). Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  33. ↑ 2 metro corridors proposed in Trichy. The Times of India(1 September 2023). Retrieved 1 June 2025.

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