Arcot Road between Vadapalani and Porur is served by five MTC routes that share the Virugambakkam stop, and three of them run on to Valasaravakkam and Porur: 26 from Broadway, 49A from T. Nagar and M88 from Vadapalani. 49A is the most frequent through route, averaging a bus every 9 minutes in MTC route data, with M88 close behind at 11 minutes.
The corridor’s travel options changed on 11 October 2026, when the Yellow Line metro opened from Poonamallee to Vadapalani via Porur. This guide sets out which bus to use for which stop, and where the metro now fits. Frequencies in this guide are averages from the MTC route data on each route page and may be dated; check live timings in the Chennai One app or with MTC before you travel.
Who runs where on Arcot Road
MTC stop lists name only a few points on this stretch: Vadapalani bus stand, Virugambakkam, Valasaravakkam and Porur. That is useful in itself, because it means every through bus stops at the same places. 26 comes from Broadway via Central, T.V.S, Gemini, the Veterinary Hospital stop and Trustpuram to Vadapalani, then runs Virugambakkam, Valasaravakkam and Porur to Iyappanthangal. M88 starts at Vadapalani and follows the same three stops before turning south from Porur through Moulivakkam and Periyapanicheri to Kundrathur and its Murugan temple.
49A reaches the corridor differently. From T. Nagar it runs via the Anjugam School stop, the PTR Road and Kamaraj Road junction and Muthumariamman Koil to Virugambakkam, so it skips Vadapalani bus stand. West of Porur it carries on through Iyappanthangal and Kumananchavadi to Poonamallee.
| Route | Ends | Length | Average gap | Arcot Road stops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49A | Poonamallee to T. Nagar | 22.3 km | 9 min | Virugambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Porur |
| M88 | Vadapalani to Kundrathur Murugan Temple | 15.7 km | 11 min | Vadapalani to Porur |
| S31 | Vadapalani to CMBT | 10.7 km | 19 min | Vadapalani, Virugambakkam |
| 26 | Broadway to Iyappanthangal | 20.85 km | 1.1 hrs | Vadapalani to Porur |
| M27ET | Vadapalani to Thiruverkadu | 17.7 km | 2 hrs | Vadapalani, Virugambakkam |
Source: MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route pages, opened 19 October 2026. Gaps are averages and may be dated.
The two short routes, S31 and M27ET, use Arcot Road only from Vadapalani to Virugambakkam before turning north through Chinmaya Nagar to Koyambedu.
Where the Yellow Line fits
The newly opened section has 11 stations: Poonamallee Bypass, Poonamallee Bus Stand, Poonamallee Government Hospital, Karayanchavadi, Kumananchavadi, Kattupakkam, Iyappanthangal, Thelliyaragaram, Porur Bypass, Porur Junction and Vadapalani, according to DT Next. Trains run 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., every 10 minutes at weekday peaks and every 15 minutes at other times. At Vadapalani the line interchanges with the Green Line listed on the CMRL website.
On the Poonamallee to Vadapalani Yellow Line section opened on 11 October 2026; the station list names none between Porur Junction and Vadapalani, per DT Next.
That gap matters for bus riders. For a trip from Porur to Vadapalani the metro is now an option, but for Virugambakkam and Valasaravakkam the bus remains the direct way in, since the list for the opened section names no stations there. For Porur Junction itself, CMRL’s Metro Connect list also runs small bus S84 from Alandur Metro via DLF and Saravana Stores to Porur Junction.
Timings and trip times
The 49A route page lists a 5 a.m. first bus from both Poonamallee and T. Nagar and daily operating hours of 5.45 a.m. to 10 p.m. The M27ET page also gives a 5 a.m. first bus. The M88, 26 and S31 pages give no first or last bus times, so check the app before an early or late trip. On the metro side, Sundays and public holidays have a flat 15-minute frequency on the Yellow Line, with no separate peak timetable, per DT Next. Its last trains leave Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani at 9 p.m., so late evening trips along Arcot Road still fall to the bus.
It’s often said that the Porur metro has replaced the need for Arcot Road buses.
The figures show The opened section lists no stations between Porur Junction and Vadapalani, so Virugambakkam and Valasaravakkam still depend on routes such as 49A, M88 and 26.
Quick answers
Which bus goes from Vadapalani to Porur?
M88 and 26 both run Vadapalani, Virugambakkam, Valasaravakkam and Porur. M88 averages a bus every 11 minutes in MTC route data.
Which bus goes from T. Nagar to Porur?
49A, via Virugambakkam and Valasaravakkam, continuing to Poonamallee. It averages a bus every 9 minutes.
Is there a metro on Arcot Road?
The Yellow Line opened on 11 October 2026 from Poonamallee to Vadapalani via Porur Junction; DT Next’s station list shows no stops between Porur Junction and Vadapalani.
Information checked against official sources on 19 October 2026. Routes, timings and fares can change; confirm on the linked official pages or in the Chennai One app before travelling.
Sources
- Route 26: Broadway to Iyappanthangal (MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page)
- Route 49A: Poonamallee to T. Nagar (MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page)
- Route M88: Vadapalani to Kundrathur Murugan Temple (MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page)
- Route S31: Vadapalani to CMBT (MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page)
- Route M27ET: Vadapalani to Thiruverkadu (MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page)
- Chennai Metro Rail: operational lines and stations (CMRL)
- Metro Connect feeder services and MTC small buses (CMRL)
- Metropolitan Transport Corporation, Chennai (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Vadapalani-Poonamallee Metro: key features, station list and train timings (DT Next)
- TN launches Chennai One app for travel on public transport with a single QR ticket (PTI via The Week)
