It was only two weeks ago that the first stretch of the 118.9-km Phase II network was opened. | Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B
Some Chennai Metro Rail commuters have been facing issues with the opening of ticketing gates and the debiting of fares on the newly opened 14.6-km Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch of the Phase II network.
It was only two weeks ago that the first stretch of the 118.9-km Phase II network – a part of corridor 4 (Poonamallee to Light House via Vadapalani) – was opened.
Arunachalam, a frequent commuter, said he often faced issues with the ticketing gates on the newly opened stretch, wherein it took multiple attempts to open them.
“I use my National Common Mobility Card, and sometimes, I have to swipe the card multiple times before the gate opens. Other times, we have to call the staff to help us open the gate. It is a bit frustrating to do it when you are rushing to board the train. A newly installed gate shouldn’t have such problems,” he added.
He also said that while exiting, the card doesn’t debit the fare. “The problem is, the card will show that I’m still inside and I will have to pay a fine. So, I had to reach out to the staff to fix the problem. This is a waste of time,” he said.
Rajesh, another commuter, said that he too faced this issue while trying to board a train at Kattupakkam recently. “When I was hurrying to board the train to my workplace, the gate was not detecting my ticket. After trying a few times at the first gate, I tried the second one, and then a staff came to assist me. The authorities should rectify the issue soon,” he added.
Officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited said measures were under way to resolve the issue.
Published - October 24, 2026 01:02 am IST