CMRL to Add 3 Million Sq. Ft. of Office and Commercial Space Under Phase II
Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is gearing up to create more than 3 million sq. ft. of office and commercial space as part of its Phase II project, set to be completed in the next three years.
CMRL officials said that property development has been planned at 25 of the 128 stations on the 118.9-km Phase II corridor. Major commercial towers will come up at Chennai Central, Thousand Lights, Thirumangalam and Mandaveli, while additional floors for offices and retail outlets are proposed at several stations, including Perungudi, Sholinganallur, Karapakkam, Thoraipakkam, Madhavaram High Road, Ayanavaram, Purasawalkam, Chetpet, Nungambakkam, Royapettah, Adyar Depot and Thirumayilai.
Officials noted that lessons from Phase I highlighted the importance of integrating commercial spaces during construction. “Whether it’s commuting for work, shopping or dining, people must shift to public transport in the future,” a CMRL official said.
Proposed Development Areas (Corridors 3 & 5)
Nehru Nagar – 40,083 sq.m
Sholinganallur – 12,285 sq.m
Thoraipakkam – 12,045 sq.m
Perungudi – 4,943 sq.m
Karapakkam – 4,662 sq.m
Purasawalkam – 5,192 sq.m
Shastri Nagar – 7,343 sq.m
Others as listed by CMRL
Real estate experts say the Phase II development will significantly boost Chennai’s commercial market. A. Shankar of JLL India noted that the addition of 3 million sq. ft. of office space and 0.25 million sq. ft. of retail space will benefit the city, especially areas facing land scarcity.
He added that the IT corridor on OMR and the fintech corridor on Mount–Poonamallee Road will gain substantially from improved connectivity and commercial integration.
CMRL believes the Phase II expansion will transform Chennai’s transit system into a world-class, transit-oriented development hub.
