Overview
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Poonamallee–Vadapalani corridor and rode the first services with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, with initial limited passenger runs followed by a regular 7 am–9 pm timetable starting October 12.
- The new Corridor 4 section covers about 14.5–15 km, includes 11 elevated stations and a 3.7 km double‑decker segment, and uses advanced signalling designed to permit fully unattended train operations after further testing and certification.
- The Chennai metro opening was the flagship of a programme launched on Sunday that inaugurated or laid foundation stones for projects across highways, railways, ports and petroleum worth over ₹13,000 crore, including roughly ₹3,700 crore in national highways and ₹750 crore in rail works.
- At IIT Madras Modi dedicated the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre and released the C‑STROKE ischaemic stroke atlas, a scientific mission to map more than 100 human brains at cellular resolution that officials say will support global research.
- Officials and political leaders framed the visit as a signal of active centre–state cooperation, with Chief Minister Vijay seeking approvals for Metro Phase III and the Centre pledging continued support while the new projects are expected to shorten commutes, boost port capacity and create local jobs.