Chennai Metro Rail may have received the final approval to operate the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch of the phase II project for passenger operations, but the entry/exit point of Vadapalani station is yet to be completed.

Since February, commuters have been waiting for the launch of the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch since it will ease mobility in the western parts of the city to some extent. Construction works at the stations between Poonamalle and Porur have been finished in entirety except Vadapalani station, where the entry/exit construction has not been completed, sources said.

When the opening of this stretch was scheduled in February, Chennai Metro Rail said those using the Vadapalani phase II station would be able to use the skywalk and enter or exit via the Vadapalani phase I station. CMRL officials said that stations between Porur and Vadapalani (Alapakkam, Karambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Saligramam Warehouse and Saligramam) would be ready by June, including the entry/exit point for the Vadapalani phase II station.

With the Centre’s permission for the opening of the stretch is expected this month, commuters boarding or alighting at Vadapalani might necessarily need to endure a longer walk and go through the entry/exit of the phase I station, sources said. It is to be noted that the entry/exit of the Vadapalani phase I station is located at Jawaharlal Nehru Salai and that of the Vadapalani phase II station on Arcot Road.

According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), they faced a shortage of workers for a couple of months when the Assembly Elections were held in different states. “But, there has been good progress in the last two months as the workers returned, and we will finish the work soon,” an official said.

Sources said that the contractor in-charge of constructing the Vadapalani’s phase II entry/exit had failed despite having plenty of time to finish the works. “In the last four months, the contractor could have easily built this entry/exit point since Vadapalani is a key station for the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch. This is an unreasonable delay,” a source said.

Commuters said they expect all facilities to be available when a stretch is opened for public use. Cherian Thomas, a resident of Vadapalani said, people like him use the Metro Rail for its convenience, but the charm to travel would be lost when they have to walk a longer distance to board and alight. “They could have finished it by now considering the fact it is an important amenity for a passenger,” he said.

Published - August 02, 2026 06:43 pm IST