Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated a new stretch of Chennai Metro Phase II, connecting Poonamallee and Vadapalani. The project, constructed at a cost of around Rs. 4,900 crore, is aimed at improving public transport connectivity across parts of Chennai.

The inauguration took place on October 11, 2026, as part of the Prime Minister’s visit to Tamil Nadu, during which development projects worth more than Rs. 13,000 crore were scheduled to be launched or dedicated to the nation.

The newly opened section forms part of Corridor 4 of Chennai Metro Phase II. The corridor features advanced signalling systems designed to support driverless train operations. 

Chennai Metro Phase II to improve connectivity

The Poonamallee–Vadapalani stretch is expected to strengthen links between Chennai’s western suburbs and the city centre. The expansion is expected to improve connectivity and provide commuters with an additional public transport option. 

One of the corridor’s key infrastructure features is a 3.7-kilometre double-decker structure. The section is part of the broader Phase II expansion of the Chennai Metro Rail Project.

During his visit, Modi travelled on the Metro between Porur Bypass Station and Poonamallee Bypass Station and back. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was also present during the inauguration programme.

Other infrastructure projects in Tamil Nadu

The Metro inauguration formed part of a wider development programme involving projects worth more than Rs. 13,000 crore across Tamil Nadu.

The programme included national highway projects worth around Rs. 3,700 crore, along with railway infrastructure works valued at more than Rs. 750 crore. Other initiatives covered port infrastructure and development projects at Chennai Port, Kamarajar Port and V.O. Chidambaranar Port.

Modi was also scheduled to dedicate the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at IIT Madras and participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of Jaigopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai.

The Chennai Metro Phase II expansion is intended to improve urban connectivity and provide commuters with additional public transport options as the city develops its Metro network.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday defended police action ahead of a protest called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in Delhi and launched an attack on Congress and Rahul Gandhi over demonstrations concerning alleged electoral fraud.

Addressing the issue, BJP spokesperson and MP Ravi Shankar Prasad defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, whose resignation has been demanded by Opposition parties.

“India is not a banana republic,” Prasad said, asserting that the country had not bowed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and would not do so in the future.

He also described the developments surrounding the protests as an attempt to create anarchy, arguing that democratic institutions and Parliament, rather than street demonstrations, should determine the country’s course.

BJP accuses Congress of politicising street protests

Prasad said the BJP was not opposed to protests but accused Congress of using street demonstrations as a political weapon following electoral defeats.

He argued that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance’s victories in bypolls in Assam, West Bengal and Puducherry on Friday demonstrated public support for the ruling alliance. He also claimed that the protests had failed to secure popular backing.

The BJP spokesperson’s remarks were directed primarily at Congress and Rahul Gandhi, although he did not specifically name CJP while criticising the protests.

Over 1,000 people detained amid Delhi protest crackdown

More than 1,000 people, including CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and other leaders, were detained in Delhi on Saturday morning as police action prevented protesters from reaching the planned demonstration site at Jantar Mantar.

Four former chief ministers — Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar — were also detained during the day. All India Students’ Association president Neha Bora was among those detained.

A heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel across the capital prevented protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar, with authorities citing the absence of permission for the demonstration.

The CJP protest was called over allegations of electoral fraud and concerns surrounding the conduct of the Election Commission. The allegations remain contested.

BJP responds to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on the President

Prasad also criticised Rahul Gandhi over his statement following a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu on Friday.

Gandhi had said the President did not deny the Opposition’s allegations of “vote chori”, or vote theft. Prasad described Gandhi’s interpretation as an insult to the office of the President.

The INDIA bloc had submitted a memorandum outlining its demands concerning the Election Commission and the electoral process.

These included the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, repeal of the 2023 law providing legal immunity to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, suspension of the SIR exercise, restoration of 13.3 crore voters whom the Opposition said had been deleted from electoral rolls, and a return to paper ballots.

The memorandum also sought the repeal of Assembly election results from the previous two years in constituencies where the Opposition claimed conclusive evidence of vote theft had been presented.

The BJP’s response comes amid a wider political confrontation between the ruling party and Opposition groups over electoral rolls, the Election Commission and allegations of irregularities in the electoral process.

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and five Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs were detained in Delhi on Saturday while attempting to join a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. 

Banerjee was detained from South Avenue in central Delhi, where she had staged a protest at a bus stop after police stopped her from proceeding. The five TMC MPs detained alongside her included Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen. They were taken away in a police bus. 

Banerjee was seen with a band-aid over her mouth during the protest. In a video statement recorded inside the police bus, she accused the government of misbehaving with the protesters and said the INDIA alliance would continue fighting to strengthen people’s voices. 

The opposition leaders raised allegations of “vote chori” and electoral irregularities, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. These were allegations made by opposition leaders, not independently established findings.

Police stopped Banerjee as she attempted to proceed to the protest. Several other opposition and student leaders were also detained while trying to join the demonstration. Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM MP John Brittas were among those taken to Chhatrasal Stadium.

The INDIA bloc has also announced a protest against the alleged Election Commission irregularities on Monday. The allegations of vote theft remain claims raised by opposition leaders.