Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay inspected Chennai Metro Rail operations on Wednesday, journeying from Omandurar Metro Station to Nandanam Metro Station after visiting the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) Headquarters to review public transit infrastructure.
The high-profile transit review marks a major push by the state administration to monitor and accelerate the city’s massive urban transport expansion.
The Chief Minister began his field visit on Wednesday afternoon by arriving at the Omandurar (Government Estate) Metro Station. Setting an example for the public, Chief Minister Vijay walked up to the standard passenger terminal and personally purchased a regular paper QR ticket rather than bypassing standard protocols.
Accompanied by a contingent of senior transit officials, he boarded a standard coach bound for Nandanam. During the brief cross-city transit, the actor-turned-politician caught passengers by surprise, sparking widespread excitement inside the car. “Vijay rode the metro to Nandanam, interacting with officials & commuters,” according to NDTV. Many passengers took the rare opportunity to greet the leader, exchange words, and snap quick selfies during the journey.
Upon alighting at the Nandanam Metro Station, the Chief Minister proceeded directly to the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) Head Office. Senior administrators, led by CMRL Managing Director M.A. Siddique, provided a comprehensive structural briefing on Phase-I network stabilization and the ongoing Phase-II expansion.
As part of the evaluation, Vijay inspected the state-of-the-art Operational Control Centre (OCC) housed inside the building. This system plays an integral role in modern transit tracking, showcasing live system maps, power networks, and real-time security CCTV feeds across all active stations.
The inspection extended well beyond the operational corporate lines. Chief Minister Vijay subsequently travelled to Kathipara Junction to inspect critical engineering structures. Using a temporary construction elevator, he traveled atop a massive 30-meter high viaduct designed to cross over the existing Phase-I infrastructure.
The day concluded with a milestone preview of Chennai’s upcoming transport tech at Porur.
The Chief Minister took a specialized trial ride along the newly cleared stretch between Porur Bypass and Poonamallee Bypass, validating driverless capabilities before the infrastructure opens to the broader public.
News Edit KV Raman
