The Red Line, Corridor 5 of Chennai Metro Phase 2, runs about 44.6 km from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur via Kolathur, Koyambedu, the Arcot Road double-decker, Alandur, Madipakkam and Medavakkam. None of it carries passengers yet. CMRL is targeting trial runs on Koyambedu to Chennai Trade Centre from November 2026, with passenger service unlikely before early 2027.

Updated 11 October 2026. For the Poonamallee–Vadapalani stretch reported for inauguration today, see Chennai Metro Poonamallee–Vadapalani Line Is Open: Timings, 11 Stations, Fares & Property Impact (2026)

How long is the Red Line and how many stations?

Metro Rail Today reported in June 2023 that CMRL cut Corridor 5 from 47 km to 44.6 km, with 44 stations. Wikipedia's Red Line page still shows the earlier 47 km and 45 stations, of which it lists 41.2 km as elevated and 5.8 km underground. The underground part is the Kolathur to Villivakkam stretch in the north.

Its most unusual feature is the double-decker section on Arcot Road, shared with the Yellow Line. DT Next reported in July 2024 that four stations there (Alwarthirunagar, Valasaravakkam, Karambakkam and Alapakkam) are built at two levels, with both lines on the same piers, which it described as a first in India. Those four will be interchanges between Corridors 4 and 5. More on why they are not yet open: Why Valasaravakkam, Saligramam and Four Other Metro Stations Are Skipped on the Poonamallee–Vadapalani Line (2026)

What are the Red Line stations?

From Wikipedia's station table, grouped into the three sections that are being opened at different times. Station names may differ slightly after the 2023 revision and on final CMRL signage.

  • North (Madhavaram to Anna Nagar): Madhavaram Milk Colony, Madhavaram Depot, Assisi Nagar, Manjambakkam, Velmurugan Nagar, Madhavaram Bus Terminus, Sastri Nagar, Retteri Junction, Kolathur Junction, Srinivasa Nagar, Villivakkam, Villivakkam Bus Terminus, Villivakkam CTH Road, Anna Nagar West, Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar KV.
  • Centre-west (Koyambedu to Alandur): Koyambedu, Koyambedu Market, Natesan Nagar, Virugambakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Valasaravakkam, Karambakkam, Alapakkam Junction, Mugalivakkam, Ramapuram, Manapakkam, Chennai Trade Centre, Butt Road, Alandur.
  • South (St Thomas Mount to Sholinganallur): St Thomas Mount, Adambakkam, Vanuvampet, Ullagaram, Madipakkam, Kilkattalai, Echangadu, Kovilambakkam, Vellakkal, Medavakkam I, Medavakkam II, Perumbakkam, Classical Tamil Institute, Elcot, Sholinganallur.

When does the Red Line open? The trial run and section dates

Koyambedu to Chennai Trade Centre comes first. Construction World reported on 8 September 2026 that CMRL is targeting a trial run in November 2026, with tests expected to continue for about four months before commercial operations. About 1.5 km of track work remained, including roughly 300 metres on the double-decker section and 150 metres at Koyambedu station. The same report said extending to Alandur, which involves a 3.6 km parcel largely along Butt Road, could take another 45 to 60 days, and that Koyambedu to Alandur is unlikely to open before next year and could be commissioned in the first quarter.

This section has already slipped once. Swarajya reported in January 2026 that CMRL was trying to bring the 12 km, 13-station Koyambedu to Butt Road stretch forward from June 2027 to mid-2026, and Propspedia (September 2026) notes that an earlier plan to open up to Alandur by June 2026 was not met. No passenger opening date has been announced.

The southern section, St Thomas Mount to Sholinganallur, is shown by Wikipedia for December 2027, and the northern section, Madhavaram to Anna Nagar, for December 2028. We did not find a recent CMRL statement on either; treat both as indicative.

Which localities does the Red Line serve?

Catalogue homes near the Red Line

Grouped by the locality in each listing. We have not measured distances to stations. Prices are indicative and change with the developer's price sheet.

Madhavaram: Radiance Solitaire, 2 to 4 BHK, ₹0.64 to 1.95 crore, possession listed June 2028 (Radiance Solitaire Madhavaram). Urbanrise The Lakes Edge, ₹0.85 to 1.47 crore, September 2028 (Urbanrise The Lakes Edge Madhavaram). Casagrand Aquagrove, ₹1.04 to 2.12 crore, May 2029 (Casagrand Aquagrove Madhavaram). Prestige Palm Court, 1 to 3 BHK, ₹0.67 to 1.99 crore, December 2030 (Prestige Palm Court Madhavaram). Radiance Suprema on GNT Road is ready to move from ₹0.45 crore (Radiance Suprema Madhavaram).

Koyambedu: Appaswamy Skylon, 3 and 4 BHK, ₹2.85 to 4.15 crore, December 2027 (Appaswamy Skylon Koyambedu). Shriram Stellar, ₹1.82 to 3.67 crore, October 2032 (Shriram Stellar Koyambedu).

Ramapuram and Manapakkam: Appaswamy The Broadstone, ready, ₹2.35 to 3.26 crore (Appaswamy The Broadstone Ramapuram). Casagrand Elysium, ₹0.80 to 1.14 crore, April 2028 (Casagrand Elysium Manapakkam). TVS Emerald Peninsula, ₹0.95 to 1.34 crore, July 2026 listed (Tvs Emerald Peninsula Cauvery Street Manapakkam). L&T Avinya Enclave Phase 2, ₹1.75 to 4.50 crore, September 2028 (Lt Avinya Enclave Phase 2 Manapakkam).

Kovilambakkam: TVS Emerald Elements, 2 and 3 BHK, ₹0.90 to 1.69 crore, June 2027 (Tvs Emerald Elements Kovilambakkam).

Medavakkam: Purva Windermere, 1 to 3 BHK, ₹0.52 to 1.20 crore, December 2027 (Purva Windermere Medavakkam). Casagrand Cloud9, ₹0.65 to 1.12 crore, June 2027 (Casagrand Cloud9). TVS Emerald Udyana, 3 BHK, ₹1.23 to 1.54 crore, December 2028 (Tvs Emerald Udyana Medavakkam). TVS Emerald Aaranya in Vengaivasal, near Medavakkam, ₹1.14 to 1.99 crore, November 2027 (Tvs Emerald Aaranya Vengaivasal Near Medavakkam).

Perumbakkam and Sholinganallur: Brigade Morgan Heights, ₹1.25 to 3.00 crore, December 2029 (Brigade Morgan Heights Perumbakkam). Casagrand FirstCity, ready, 2 BHK, ₹0.60 to 0.69 crore (Casagrand Firstcity Perumbakkam Off Sholinganallur). Sholinganallur projects are listed in the Purple Line article.

What this means for buyers

  • The centre-west section, through Koyambedu, Valasaravakkam, Ramapuram and Manapakkam, is the nearest to service. Early 2027 is a reasonable working assumption, not a commitment.
  • In the south, Medavakkam and Kovilambakkam have a longer wait. Buy there for today's road access to the airport, Velachery and OMR, with the metro as a later benefit.
  • The northern underground section is the furthest out. Madhavaram buyers will see the Purple and Red lines arrive at the same terminus, but on a 2028 horizon in the sources we found.
  • Check how close the specific station is, and whether it is elevated over a busy road; noise and construction disruption near the line are real costs for a few years.