New Delhi, October 10, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Chennai on October 11 to inaugurate a new stretch of the city’s Metro network and launch development projects worth more than ₹13,000 crore across the transport, ports, petroleum and education sectors. The programme includes a ₹4,900-crore Metro corridor expected to reduce commuting time, alongside highway and railway projects aimed at improving connectivity across Tamil Nadu.
A major highlight of the visit will be the inauguration of the Poonamallee–Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Phase II. Built at a cost of around ₹4,900 crore, the corridor features a 3.7-km double-decker structure and advanced signalling systems designed to support driverless train operations. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the new stretch is expected to reduce travel time and improve connectivity between Chennai’s growing western suburbs and the city centre.
Modi is scheduled to travel on the Chennai Metro from Porur Bypass Station to Poonamallee Bypass Station and back at around 11:30 am. The main programme, during which he will inaugurate projects, lay foundation stones and dedicate completed infrastructure to the nation, is scheduled to begin at approximately 1:30 pm. He will also address a gathering on the occasion.
National highway projects worth around ₹3,700 crore will also be inaugurated or launched during the visit. These include the 36-km, four-lane Vadugapatti–Therkuvenganallur section of National Highway 744 and the 30-km, four-lane Madurai Ring Road section of National Highway 744A. The projects are expected to improve regional connectivity, facilitate the movement of goods and reduce traffic congestion.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for the four-lane Thiruvarur Bypass on the Nagapattinam–Thanjavur section of National Highway 83. The proposed bypass will provide an alternative route around Thiruvarur, helping to ease traffic congestion in the town.
Railway infrastructure projects worth more than ₹750 crore will form another part of the programme. Modi will dedicate the Karaikal–Peralam railway line and three rail flyovers in and around Coimbatore. According to the government, the flyovers are expected to ease congestion at busy level crossings, reduce waiting times and improve road safety.
Five redeveloped railway stations at Palani, Vellore Cantonment, Ambasamudram, Paramakkudi and Namakkal will also be inaugurated under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which aims to improve passenger facilities and station infrastructure.
Several port infrastructure projects are also scheduled for inauguration or launch. At Chennai Port, the Prime Minister will inaugurate a paved storage yard, four export-import warehouses, an upgraded cruise terminal and a Seafarers Club. These facilities are intended to improve cargo handling, expand storage capacity and enhance services for cruise passengers and maritime personnel.
At V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for eight development projects aimed at expanding cargo and container-handling capacity, improving logistics and supporting cleaner maritime energy infrastructure.
At Kamarajar Port, he will inaugurate the Coal Berth-3 project and lay the foundation stone for capital dredging works associated with the expansion of the container terminal.
The visit will also include the laying of the foundation stone for a ₹1,620-crore lubricating oil base stock project at Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited’s Manali Refinery. With a planned annual production capacity of 270,000 metric tonnes, the facility is intended to produce higher-grade base oils used to manufacture premium lubricants.
In the research and education sector, Modi will dedicate the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras to the nation. He will also launch a scientific mission to create detailed three-dimensional maps of more than 100 human brains, covering different stages of life, from the foetal stage to old age.
The planned research mission aims to map brain structures at cellular resolution, allowing scientists to study the organisation of the human brain in greater detail. The Prime Minister will also release C-STROKE, a detailed atlas of a brain affected by an ischaemic stroke, which occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked. The atlas contains more than 1,000 annotated microscopic sections and is intended to help researchers identify potential targets for new treatments.
During the visit, Modi is scheduled to offer prayers at the Jalakandeswarar Temple in Chennai at around 12:15 pm and undertake a walkthrough of the Brain Centre at IIT Madras.
He will also participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of Jaigopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School at approximately 3 pm and address the gathering.
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