A total of 25,474 passengers travelled on the newly opened Poonamallee to Vadapalani stretch of the Chennai Metro Rail’s Phase II network on Sunday, the first day of its public service.
According to officials from Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), the new stretch received a positive response from passengers on its opening day. The service is expected to make travel easier for people travelling between Poonamallee, Vadapalani and nearby areas.
CMRL officials also reported that a total of 2.19 lakh passengers used both Phase I and Phase II metro networks across Chennai on Sunday. This marked an increase of nearly 15% compared with the number of passengers who travelled on a regular day, according to the officials.
The opening of the new metro stretch is an important development for Chennai’s public transport system. It offers passengers another travel option and is expected to help reduce dependence on road transport for some journeys.
The Poonamallee-Vadapalani route is particularly useful for commuters who travel through busy parts of the city. By providing a metro connection, the new stretch could help passengers save time and avoid some of the traffic congestion on city roads.
The increase in passenger numbers across the metro network also shows the growing use of metro services in Chennai. As more sections of Phase II become operational, the network is expected to improve connectivity between different parts of the city.
Chennai Metro Rail Limited will continue to monitor passenger numbers and service performance as commuters become familiar with the newly opened route. The expansion is part of the city’s broader effort to provide faster and more convenient public transport for residents.