Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched projects worth over ₹13,000 crore on 11 October 2026, at an event at IIT Madras. Chennai residents can already use the biggest of them: the Poonamallee to Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Phase 2, which cost about ₹4,900 crore. Other projects, such as the lube oil plant at the Manali refinery, only had their foundation stones laid and have no public completion date.
The details below come from the Prime Minister’s Office release issued on 10 October, with costs from that release and from All India Radio News. The PMO release does not give completion dates for any project. It does say which ones were inaugurated, which were dedicated to the nation and which only had a foundation stone laid, and that is the clearest guide to what is ready.
Chennai projects
| Project | What happened | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Phase 2, Poonamallee to Vadapalani (about ₹4,900 crore) | Inaugurated | Open |
| Chennai Port: storage yard, 4 EXIM godowns, upgraded cruise terminal, Seafarers Club | Inaugurated | Complete |
| Kamarajar Port, Ennore: Coal Berth-3 | Inaugurated | Complete |
| Kamarajar Port: dredging for Container Terminal Phase-I, Stage-II | Foundation stone | Not yet built |
| CPCL Manali refinery: lube oil base stocks unit (about ₹1,620 crore) | Foundation stone | Not yet built |
| Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, IIT Madras | Dedicated to the nation | Working |
The metro stretch
The Poonamallee to Vadapalani section is part of Corridor 4 of Phase 2. It is about 15 km long with 11 elevated stations, according to All India Radio. The PMO said it includes a 3.7 km double-decker structure and signalling designed to support driverless operation. The Prime Minister rode the line from Porur Bypass to Poonamallee Bypass and back. The rest of Corridor 4, towards Lighthouse, and Corridors 3 and 5 are still under construction. Chennai Metro Rail’s website lists Phase 2 as under progress. Check it for timings and fares on the new stretch.
Chennai Port and the cruise terminal
The upgraded cruise terminal can now handle more passengers boarding and leaving at the same time, the PMO said. The storage yard and four godowns for export and import cargo are also complete. So is a Seafarers Club for crew welfare and recreation.
Manali refinery
Chennai Petroleum Corporation’s Group II/III Lube Oil Base Stocks project will have a capacity of 270,000 tonnes a year, the PMO said. It will make base oils used in premium lubricants. Only the foundation stone was laid. No commissioning date was announced.
IIT Madras brain research
The Brain Centre at IIT Madras was dedicated. The Prime Minister also launched a mission to map more than 100 human brains as 3D cellular-resolution atlases, from the foetal stage to old age. A stroke atlas, C-STROKE, with over 1,000 annotated microscopic sections was released for researchers.
Projects elsewhere in Tamil Nadu
- Highways, about ₹3,700 crore in all: A 36 km four-lane section of NH-744 from Vadugapatti to Therkuvenganallur and a 30 km section of the Madurai Ring Road on NH-744A were inaugurated. Work on a Thiruvarur bypass on NH-83 was started with a foundation stone.
- Railways, over ₹750 crore: The Karaikal to Peralam line and three rail flyovers in and around Coimbatore were dedicated. Five stations redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme were opened: Palani, Vellore Cantonment, Ambasamudram, Paramakkudi and Namakkal.
- V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Thoothukudi: Eight projects on cargo capacity, cleaner maritime energy and logistics were inaugurated or had foundation stones laid.
The total of ₹13,000 crore is the government’s figure for all these projects together. The PMO did not give a cost for every project, so the individual figures above do not add up to the total.
What the state asked for
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay shared the stage. According to a report of the event, he asked the Centre to speed up approval of Chennai Metro Phase 3. He also asked it to reconsider metro projects for Coimbatore and Madurai, and to support high-speed rail from Chennai to Coimbatore and to Kanyakumari. The Prime Minister said the projects would make travel easier, strengthen industry and create jobs. According to the same report, he said metro services had grown from five cities in 2014 to 25 cities now. He also said the national metro network had grown from about 250 km to over 1,100 km. The Chief Minister’s other requests included river linking, release of pending education funds and an extension of GST compensation.
Quick answers
Is the Poonamallee to Vadapalani metro open?
Yes. It was inaugurated on 11 October 2026. Check chennaimetrorail.org for current timings.
When will the Manali lube oil plant be ready?
No date has been announced. Only the foundation stone was laid on 11 October.
Can cruise passengers use the new Chennai Port terminal?
The upgraded terminal was inaugurated as a completed project. Sailing schedules are set by the cruise operators.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- PM to visit Tamil Nadu on 11 October (PMIndia / Prime Minister's Office)
- PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate projects worth Rs 13,000 crore in Chennai today (All India Radio News)
- Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL)
- PM Modi launches projects worth over Rs 13,000 crore (NewKerala / IANS)
- PM Modi launches Tamil Nadu projects worth over Rs 13,000 crore (GKToday)
