TheBlue Line is one of the two operational lines ofChennai Metro apart from theGreen line, in Chennai, India. The line stretches fromChennai Airport toWimco Nagar Depot, covering a distance of 32.65 km (20.29 mi). The line consists of 26stations out of which 13 stations are underground and the rest areelevated or on ground level. In May 2018, operations on the blue line commenced betweenSaidapet andAG-DMS with the extended underground stretch from AG-DMS toWashermanpet of blue line commencing operations on 10 February 2019 completing the phase 1 of the metro.
In 2006, a modern metro rail system was planned forChennai modeled after theDelhi Metro.[1][2]Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was tasked with preparing a detailed project report on the implementation of metro system in Chennai.[2] Based on the report, theGovernment of Tamil Nadu approved the first phase of the project in November 2007.[3] The first phase was planned with two lines covering 45.1 km (28.0 mi) with 25 km (15.5 mi) being underground. The first corridor would connectWashermanpet withChennai International Airport extending for 23.1 km (14.4 mi) with 14.3 km (8.9 mi) being underground.[2] In December 2007,Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) was incorporated and theGovernment of India gave approval for the project in January 2009.[4][3]
The construction started in June 2009.[5] In August 2010, the contract for supplyingrolling stock was awarded toAlstom.[6][7] Test and trial runs happened on theGreen line in 2013 and early 2014.[8][9][10] After approvals fromRDSO and the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety, commercial operations started betweenAlandur and Koyambedu stations on the green line in June 2015.[11][12][13] On 21 September 2016, commercial operations commenced betweenAirport andLittle Mount on the blue line.[14] In May 2018, the blue line was extended betweenSaidapet andAG-DMS.[15] On 10 February 2019, the underground stretch from AG-DMS toWashermanpet of blue line was opened, completing the first phase of the metro.[16]
| Line Name | Terminals | Stations | Opened | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Line | Chennai Airport | Little Mount | 6 | 21 September 2016 |
| Little Mount | AG–DMS | 4 | 25 May 2018 | |
| AG–DMS | Washermanpet | 7 | 10 February 2019 | |
A 9 kilometres (5.59 mi) northern extension of the blue line running from Washermanpet toWimco Nagar consisting of nine stations.[17][18] Construction started in July 2016 with trial runs in December 2020.[19][20] The line opened for passenger traffic on 14 February 2021, increasing the length of the operational metro system to 54.1 km (33.62 mi).[21]
| Line Name | Terminals | Stations | Opened | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Line | Washermanpet | Wimco Nagar | 8 | 14 February 2021 |
| Wimco Nagar | Wimco Nagar Depot | 1 | 13 March 2022 | |
In 2021, CMRL proposed an extension to the first phase to connect the Airport withKilambakkam.[22] Detailed project report for the project was submitted by CMRL in 2022.[23] The As of October 2023, the project is awaiting funds.[24]
| Line | Terminals | Length | Stations | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Line | Chennai Airport | Kilambakkam | 15.46 km (9.61 mi) | 13 | DPR approved |
The trains are operated on1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge double-tracked lines.[25] The average speed of operation is 85 kilometres per hour (53 mph) and maximum speed is 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph).[26] Alstom supplies the rolling stock for the trains operated on the line.[27] The trains are air-conditioned with electrically operated automatic sliding doors and have a first-class compartment with a dedicated section reserved for women.[28]
The trains operate on25 kV ACtractioncatenary system.[29] The trains are connected to the grid via overhead electric cables and are equipped with regenerative braking with a capacity to recover 30–35% of the energy during braking.[30] The electricity is supplied byTamil Nadu Electricity Board.[31]
A total of 26 stations are operational along the blue line with 13 underground stations. In the underground sections, a walkway runs along the length with cross passages every 250 metres (820 ft 3 in) for the maintenance and emergency evacuation.[32] The underground stations have an average width of 200 metres (656 ft 2 in) and average depth of 20 feet (6.1 m) from the ground level.[33] The length of the stations in Phase 1 extension is 180 metres (590 ft 7 in).[34][35] The elevated stations have three levels with the concourse level at a minimum height of 5.5 metres (18 ft 1 in) above the ground level and platform level above the concourse while the underground stations have two levels withplatform screen doors.[36] The stations are air-conditioned and are equipped to be disabled and elderly friendly, with automatic fare collection system, announcement system, electronic display boards, escalators and lifts.[37] Paid parking facilities are available for two wheelers in most stations and four wheelers in select stations.[38]
The line connects the northeast and the southwest ends of the city. The stations include:
| Blue Line | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.No | Station name[21][39] | Opened | Connections | Station layout | Platform Level Type | |
| English | Tamil | |||||
| 1 | Wimco Nagar Depot | விம்கோ நகர் பணிமனை | 13 March 2022[40] | Elevated | Side | |
| 2 | Wimco Nagar | விம்கோ நகர் | 14 February 2021 |  North Line, Chennai Suburban | Elevated | Side |
| 3 | Tiruvottriyur | திருவொற்றியூர் | 14 February 2021 | Elevated | Side | |
| 4 | Tiruvottriyur Theradi | திருவொற்றியூர் தேரடி | 13 March 2022[41] | Elevated | Side | |
| 5 | Kaladipet | காலடிப்பேட்டை | 14 February 2021 | Elevated | Side | |
| 6 | Tollgate | சுங்கச்சாவடி | 14 February 2021 | Elevated | Side | |
| 7 | New Washermanpet | புது வண்ணாரப்பேட்டை | 14 February 2021 | Elevated | Side | |
| 8 | Tondiarpet | தண்டையார்பேட்டை | 14 February 2021 | Underground | Island | |
| 9 | Sir Theagaraya College | தியாகராயா கல்லூரி | 14 February 2021 | Underground | Island | |
| 10 | Washermanpet | வண்ணாரப்பேட்டை | 10 February 2019 | North Line, Chennai Suburban | Underground | Island |
| 11 | Mannadi | மண்ணடி | 10 February 2019 | Underground | Island | |
| 12 | High Court | உயர் நீதிமன்றம் | 10 February 2019 |  Broadway bus terminus | Underground | Island |
| 13 | Central | சென்ட்ரல் | 10 February 2019 | Green Line  Chennai CentralSouth Line, Chennai Suburban(Park) | Underground | Island |
| 14 | Government Estate | அரசினர் தோட்டம் | 10 February 2019 | Chennai MRTS | Underground | Island |
| 15 | LIC | எல்.ஐ.சி | 10 February 2019 | Underground | Island | |
| 16 | Thousand Lights | ஆயிரம் விளக்கு | 10 February 2019 | Purple Line (Under Construction) | Underground | Island |
| 17 | AG – DMS | ஏ.ஜி.–டி.எம்.எஸ். | 25 May 2018 | Underground | Island | |
| 18 | Teynampet | தேனாம்பேட்டை | 25 May 2018 | Underground | Island | |
| 19 | Nandanam | நந்தனம் | 25 May 2018 | Yellow Line (Under Construction) | Underground | Island |
| 20 | Saidapet | சைதாப்பேட்டை | 25 May 2018 | Underground | Island | |
| 21 | Little Mount | சின்னமலை | 21 September 2016 | Elevated | Side | |
| 22 | Guindy | கிண்டி | 21 September 2016 | South Line, Chennai Suburban (Guindy) | Elevated | Side |
| 23 | Alandur | ஆலந்தூர் | 21 September 2016 | Green Line Red Line (Under Construction) | Elevated | Side |
| 24 | Nanganallur Road | நங்கநல்லூர் சாலை | 21 September 2016 | Elevated | Side | |
| 25 | Meenambakkam | மீனம்பாக்கம் | 21 September 2016 | South Line, Chennai Suburban | Elevated | Side |
| 26 | Chennai Airport | சென்னை விமான நிலையம் | 21 September 2016 |  Chennai International AirportSouth Line, Chennai Suburban | Elevated | Side |
| 27 | Pallavaram* | பல்லாவரம் | TBA | South Line, Chennai Suburban | TBA | TBA |
| 28 | Kothandam Nagar* | கோதண்டம் நகர் | ||||
| 29 | Chromepet* | குரோம்பேட்டை | South Line, Chennai Suburban | |||
| 30 | MEPZ* | மெட்ராஸ் எக்ஸ்போர்ட் பிராசஸிங் ஜோன் | South Line, Chennai Suburban | |||
| 31 | Tambaram* | தாம்பரம் | South Line, Chennai Suburban | |||
| 32 | Irumbuliyur* | இரும்புலியூர் | ||||
| 33 | Peerkankaranai* | பீர்க்கன்கரனை | ||||
| 34 | Perungalathur* | பெருங்களத்தூர் | South Line, Chennai Suburban | |||
| 35 | Vandalur* | வண்டலூர் | South Line, Chennai Suburban (Vandalur) | |||
| 36 | Arignar Anna Zoological Park * | அரிக்னார் அண்ணா உயிரியல் பூங்கா | ||||
| 37 | Kilambakkam Bus Terminus * | கிளாம்பாக்கம் பேருந்து நிலையம் | Kilambakkam Bus Terminus | |||
§ under construction
'''*''' - To Be Confirmed
As of 2022[update], the metro operates trains from 5 AM to 11 PM with an average frequency of one train every 5 minutes in peak hours and every 8 minutes in lean hours in the blue line.[42][43] The main operational control center (OCC) is located in Koyambedu where the movement of trains and real-time CCTV footage obtained is monitored.[44] In 2022, an elevated depot at Wimco Nagar covering an area of 3.5 ha (8.6 acres) commenced operations with facilities for inspection, emergency repair and a washing plant.[45][46] The minimum fare is₹10 and the maximum fare is₹50.[47][48] There are six types of tickets issued by CMRL for travel in Chennai Metro.[49]
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See also | ||||||
Bold represents terminal station on the respective main or branch line Stations initalics are Proposed/Under Construction Stations inBold and italics are terminal stations Proposed/Under Construction | ||||||
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