Chennai: Southern Railway has officially announced the operationalisation of the long-awaited Chennai MRTS extension from Velachery to St Thomas Mount, commencing Saturday, March 14, 2026, after receiving provisional approval from the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety, New Delhi. This marks the realisation of an 18-year-old dream for Chennai residents, finally connecting the southern suburbs through an elevated rail corridor.

Safety clearance and inspections

The Commissioner of Railway Safety conducted a thorough inspection of the new line on March 5 by operating a passenger train along the route, following earlier trial runs with freight trains. Satisfied with the safety parameters, the Commissioner granted provisional permission on March 11 to commence train operations. Initially, trains will operate at a maximum speed of 55 km/h, which is lower than the standard operating speed. Certain pending works, including the installation of escalators, lifts, and drinking water facilities at Adambakkam and Puzhuthivakkam stations, have been directed to be completed by May 15.

In an official statement, the Chennai Railway Division confirmed, “The Chennai Division of Southern Railway has received the Provisional Authorisation Certificate from the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety to start the MRTS Phase II line between Velachery-Parangimalai. Train services on this extended line will commence from March 14, 2026. This will improve suburban rail connectivity and ensure seamless integration with the suburban rail and Chennai Metro at Parangimalai.”

New train services

Under the new schedule, a total of 43 pairs of MRTS services will now run between Chennai Beach and St Thomas Mount. Until now, trains departing from Chennai Beach terminated at Velachery. From Saturday, 43 trains will have their routes extended from Chennai Beach, running through Velachery all the way to St Thomas Mount, with 43 trains returning on the same route. This means passengers traveling from areas such as Mylapore or Thiruvanmiyur can now travel directly to St Thomas Mount and easily transfer there to either the Metro Rail or suburban trains bound for Chengalpattu.

Additionally, two pairs of trains will continue to operate only between Chennai Beach and Velachery, terminating at Velachery without proceeding to St Thomas Mount. Three pairs of shuttle services will also operate exclusively between Velachery and St Thomas Mount, running back and forth between these two stations. These shuttle services will be particularly beneficial for residents of Adambakkam and Puzhuthivakkam areas to access Velachery or reach St Thomas Mount railway station.

Transformative impact for commuters

The new connectivity will liberate residents of Velachery and Adambakkam from complete dependence on buses or autos, enabling them to travel directly to St Thomas Mount to catch trains heading to Egmore or Chengalpattu. The integration of MRTS, metro, and suburban rail services at St Thomas Mount will create a seamless multimodal transit hub, significantly reducing travel time and offering relief from the heavy traffic congestion on the Velachery-Airport Inner Ring Road.

Southern Railway officials stated that full details of the new schedule will be released tomorrow. The Chennai Railway Division emphasized that “this milestone achievement is a major step in strengthening Chennai’s urban rail infrastructure and improving the convenience of everyday commuters.”