Delhi Metro Takes Chennai: DMRC Wins Big O&M Contract

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is set to manage Chennai Metro Rail’s (CMRL) 118.9-km Phase II network after emerging as the lowest bidder for the operations and maintenance contract.

Having previously served as a consultant for CMRL, DMRC is now expected to oversee three corridors—Madhavaram to SIPCOT, Light House to Poonamallee, and Madhavaram to Sholinganallur—comprising 128 stations. The contract includes maintaining depots at Madhavaram, Poonamallee, and Semmencheri, operating trains, and managing station operations.

DMRC secured the bid at ₹5,870 crore. However, an official noted that while DMRC is the lowest bidder, the contract award is subject to approval from a high-level State government committee, which may take time.

Meanwhile, CMRL will continue handling operations for the Poonamallee-Porur stretch, scheduled to open in December. DMRC, India’s largest metro operator with a 394-km network, recently won the operations contract for Mumbai Metro Line 3.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.