Chief Minister M.K. Stalin approved a ₹2.5 lakh crore Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for the Chennai Metropolitan Area. The initiative maps out a 25-year strategy aimed at expanding and integrating Chennai’s transport network and introduces a first-of-its-kind QR-based ticketing system. Commuters will be able to use a single ticket across different modes of transit, including buses, metro, and suburban trains.

Key Transport Upgrades & Expansion

Under the CMP, Chennai Metro will grow from 172 km to 444 km by 2048, covering both its ongoing phases (54 km first phase, 118 km second phase). A 152-km light rail network has also been proposed. In terms of suburban rail, the plan includes 182 km of new corridors plus upgrades to 126 km of existing tracks.

A 438-km Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) network will be built, featuring major links such as Alandur/Tambaram to Parandur, Kancheepuram to Chengalpattu, Puducherry/Cuddalore, and Chennai Central to Gummidipoondi, Sri City, and Nellore.

Phased Investment & Timeline

The projects under CMP are divided into short-, medium-, and long-term phases. By 2030, works worth approximately ₹75,976 crore will be completed, mainly to expand public transport. Between 2030 and 2040, another ₹95,777 crore is earmarked, followed by ₹40,768 crore for the final phase extending up to 2048.

Also Read | Qatar Becomes Latest Country to Accept India’s UPI Payments

App Integration: One Ticket, One Journey

To streamline travel, the government has launched the Chennai One Mobility App for iOS and Android. The app allows commuters to plan journeys, track services in real time, and buy digital tickets via UPI or card payments. Its “One City, One Ticket” feature lets users switch between buses, metro, and suburban rail using a single QR code.

The app supports multiple languages — Tamil, English, Telugu, and Hindi and is expected to reduce queues at ticket counters. “With a few taps, passengers can plan, pay, and travel across modes—this is a landmark reform for public transport,” said I. Jayakumar, special officer of Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA).

Vision & Sustainability

The CMP is anchored in sustainable mobility principles, emphasising people’s movement instead of private vehicles. It promotes public transport and multimodal integration. Among its goals are reduced reliance on cars, lower emissions, improved quality of life, compact urban development, and encouragement of walking and cycling.

The plan updates the original CMP (prepared in 2018 by CMRL), which covered 1,189 sq km, to reflect the expansion of the Chennai Metropolitan Area to 5,904 sq km in 2022. The CUMTA will oversee coordination and monitoring, while the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is finalising the vision document for the third master plan. Consultancy firm SYSTRA prepared the updated CMP using 2023-24 as the base year.