Modi Inaugurates Chennai Metro Stretch, CM Vijay Raises Pending Project Demands

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated and launched development projects worth over Rs 13,000 crore in Tamil Nadu, including a key section of the Chennai Metro Phase II, and attended programmes at IIT Madras and a city school.

Modi inaugurated the Poonamallee Bypass-Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Phase II, constructed at a cost of around Rs 4,900 crore. He also took a Metro ride with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay following the inauguration.

The new corridor is expected to improve connectivity across western Chennai and ease travel for commuters. During the event, Vijay urged the Centre to grant early approval for Chennai Metro Phase III. He also sought reconsideration of Metro projects proposed for Coimbatore and Madurai, along with support for a Metro link connecting Hosur in Tamil Nadu with Bommasandra in Karnataka.

The chief minister raised other demands, including the release of pending funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, high-speed rail connectivity between Chennai and Coimbatore and between Chennai and Kanyakumari, and recognition of Tamil as an official language of the Madras High Court.

Vijay said his government was working towards making Tamil Nadu a USD 1.5 trillion economy by 2036. The project package included National Highway works worth around Rs 3,700 crore. Modi inaugurated the 36-km Vadugapatti-Therkuvenganallur section of NH-744 and a 30-km stretch of the Madurai Ring Road on NH-744A. The foundation stone was laid for the four-lane Thiruvarur Bypass on NH-83.

Railway infrastructure projects worth over Rs 750 crore, along with initiatives to strengthen port facilities and improve connectivity around Coimbatore, were also part of the programme. At IIT Madras, Modi dedicated the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre to the nation and launched a mission to map more than 100 human brains at cellular resolution. He also released the C-STROKE atlas to support research into ischaemic stroke.

The Prime Minister's schedule included prayers at the Jalakandeswarar Temple and participation in the golden jubilee celebrations of Jaigopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School.