$240M Boost: ADB Fuels Major Expansion of Chennai Metro

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 240 million loan to support the expansion of Chennai’s Metro rail network. The funding forms part of a larger USD 780 million financing facility sanctioned in 2022.

The loan will be used to develop key sections of Metro Lines 3, 4, and 5, covering about 20 km and adding 18 new stations. The new infrastructure will feature universal accessibility and disaster-resilient designs to enhance safety during extreme weather events. ADB’s Country Director for India, Mio Oka, said the project would enable safer, faster, and more reliable daily travel while supporting Chennai’s low-carbon development objectives.

The funding will cover civil and systems works, including power supply, traction, and telecommunications, as well as improvements to multimodal interchange areas to facilitate smoother transfers between the metro, buses, and other modes of transport. The project is targeted for completion by mid-2028.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.