Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first stretch of Chennai Metro Rail's Phase II project, the Poonamallee-Vadapalani line, during a one-day visit to Chennai on Sunday, October 11, 2026, according to The Hindu. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay joined him at the event, held at the Kendriya Vidyalaya ground on the IIT Madras campus.
At the same public function, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects in Tamil Nadu worth more than ₹13,000 crore, spanning Metro Rail, highways, railways, ports, petroleum and scientific research. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was also present, The Hindu reported.
The Hindu noted that the metro stretch had been awaited for months. The paper also reported that ticket fares on the new line will remain unchanged, with a trip from Poonamallee to Vadapalani costing ₹40. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation will run last-mile connectivity buses along the stretch.
Why it matters
The Poonamallee-Vadapalani section is the first part of Chennai Metro's Phase II to enter service, making it the most visible outcome of a project that has been under construction for years. For the Prime Minister, the visit combined infrastructure delivery with a political message in a state where the BJP governs in partnership with the ruling TVK.
The ₹13,000-crore bundle of projects cuts across transport, energy and research, which the government presents as a sign of coordinated work between the Centre and the State. Vijay framed the day in those terms, saying that when the State and the Centre work together, people benefit, and that his government is seeking to establish a corruption-free administration in Tamil Nadu, according to The Hindu.
Temple visit, brain centre and a roadshow
Modi's day began with the metro inauguration, after which he travelled from Porur to the IIT Madras campus, holding a roadshow along the route. On reaching the campus, he offered prayers at the Jalakandeshwarar Temple, The Hindu reported.
He then visited the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at IIT Madras, a research facility at the institute. The visit was part of a schedule that mixed public events with site inspections, ahead of the afternoon function where the larger set of projects was announced.
Railway stations and a wider project list
The day's announcements also covered railway infrastructure. The Indian Express reported that 26 railway stations in Tamil Nadu have been redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, and that Modi inaugurated five more. The scheme is aimed at modernising station buildings and passenger facilities.
ThePrint reported that the projects inaugurated and initiated in Tamil Nadu on Sunday were together valued at over ₹13,000 crore, matching the figure cited by other outlets covering the visit. The sectors listed included highways, ports and petroleum alongside rail and metro works.
School jubilee and a message to young people
In the afternoon, Modi attended the golden jubilee celebrations of Jaigopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School at the Chennai Trade Centre in Nandambakkam.
Speaking there, he said the institution shows how education can also shape citizens with a sense of patriotism. He recalled a story he had shared on his Mann Ki Baat programme about Girija-amma, who encouraged children to each save one rupee for the nation's soldiers; when thousands of children took part, around ₹40 lakh was raised, he said, adding that even a small effort can have a large effect.
The Prime Minister also spoke about India's ambitions in sport, saying the country is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is working towards a bid for the 2036 Olympics. He said major sporting events will be held in India in the coming years and that the country's youth have both a platform and the potential to make the most of it.
Addressing young people at the school event, he said the ideas and solutions needed for a developed India will shape not only the country's future but also the world's, and that the world is looking for answers that today's youth are capable of providing. He urged every young person to see their future on a large canvas, describing the present as their time and opportunity.
At the earlier public meeting, Modi recalled his years as a chief minister and said he had many chances to interact with M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa. As Prime Minister, he said, he worked with Jayalalithaa, O. Panneerselvam, Edappadi K. Palaniswami and M.K. Stalin, and that while governments changed, his commitment to Tamil Nadu's development remained, with the journey now continuing alongside Chief Minister Joseph Vijay.
The Hindu reported that he also invoked his parliamentary constituency, saying he represents Kashi, and that people in Varanasi still remember the poet Mahakavi Bharathiyar's "Achamillai" verse, which urges people to live without fear. He asked the audience to give themselves the chance to be fearless, to work on their ideas, dream big and think differently.
A restive audience and a list of demands
Not everything at the ground went to script. The Hindu reported that TVK cadres seated in the last row blew whistles while the Prime Minister was speaking, in the presence of Chief Minister Vijay. The cadres also held up placards carrying photographs of their party president and the slogan "Next Prime Minister", according to the paper's correspondent.
Earlier in the day, Vijay used his remarks to press the Centre on state priorities. India Today reported that the Chief Minister listed a series of demands before Modi, covering new metro links and river linking, among other requests. The Times of India reported that Vijay sought metro expansion and additional funds for Tamil Nadu, while Modi pledged to work for the state's development.
The Hindu reported that the Prime Minister took a ride on the Chennai Metro during the visit, sharing the journey with the Chief Minister.
What to watch next: how quickly the remaining stretches of Chennai Metro Phase II move towards completion, and whether the state's requests for more metro lines and river-linking funds draw a concrete response from the Centre.
