Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Phase II on Sunday, declaring it a "historic day for Tamil Nadu" while unveiling development projects worth ₹13,000 crore. The newly opened Corridor 4 section, spanning 15 km with 11 elevated stations, was built at an estimated cost of ₹4,900 crore to ease congestion between the city's western suburbs and its core.
Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay jointly flagged off the first train before boarding it together, a symbolic gesture underscoring the Centre's commitment to the state's infrastructure. The Prime Minister emphasized that these projects would "create jobs for young people across Tamil Nadu" while strengthening the region's industrial and trade capabilities.
He showcased the expansion of India's urban transit network, noting that metro services have grown from five cities to 25, with track length increasing from 250 km to over 1,100 km since 2014. Modi positioned this growth as part of a broader national push to enhance manufacturing, citing an 11-fold rise in electronics exports and a 50-fold increase in defence exports since his tenure began.
The Prime Minister also highlighted his 25 years of public service, first as Gujarat Chief Minister and then as PM, stressing his belief in "cooperative federalism" and the importance of working with state leaders regardless of political affiliation. He mentioned his engagements with successive Tamil Nadu leaders, including M Karunanidhi, J Jayalalithaa, and M K Stalin, before affirming his current collaboration with CM Vijay.
The next phase of development will focus on completing additional segments of the metro network and launching industrial projects aimed at boosting employment in Chennai's suburbs. Tamil Nadu's role as a manufacturing hub is expected to expand further, with new investments targeting electronics and defence sectors.