Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay jointly flagged off the metro rail service between Porur Bypass and Poonamallee, the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) staked claims to having introduced the project during their respective tenures in power.
Recalling that central funds had not been released for the project, Palaniswami said the AIADMK government had allocated state funds and commenced the work. The Central government approval was obtained and the foundation stone for the project was laid by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “I could have done a photoshoot on the metro bridge wearing sunglasses, or filmed a reels shooting inside the tunnel wearing a safety helmet. Regardless of whose government is in power, our projects continue to give us the pride that our actions are uplifting the people of Tamil Nadu.
“When I met the Honorable Prime Minister in person several times and requested funding for this, the Central Government accepted our request and approved the allocation of ₹ 63,246 crore in 2024. Earlier reporting noted: PM Modi to launch ₹13,000 crore projects in Chennai, inaugurate Porur–Poonamallee Metro stretch Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch and dedicate development projects worth over ₹ 13,000 crore in Chennai on Sunday, including the Porur–Poonamallee stretch of the Chennai Metro Phase II, and inaugurate a brain research centre at IIT Madras. The Phase II project of the Chennai Metro is being developed at an outlay of ₹ 4,900 crore.
However, I have never agreed to such deceitful politics,” Palaniswami said. He further said, “I am someone who always believes that we should not speak; our actions must speak. Earlier reporting noted: He will also undertake a ride on the new Metro line with Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay during his day-long visit to the city, the government said.
Earlier reporting noted: During his visit to the coastal city, Modi, along with chief minister C Joseph Vijay, will undertake a ride on the Chennai Metro Rail from Porur Bypass Station to Poonamallee Bypass Station and return. Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami after receiving Modi at the Airport on Sunday, said, “As far as this metro rail project is concerned, the Detailed Project Report was prepared when the AIADMK government was in power under my leadership. Based on that, today the Vadapalani-Poonammallee corridor is coming into public use,” Palaniswami said.
The IT wing of the opposition DMK said that the signature by former CM MK Stalin was not just for a train service but a signature for a generation that built Chennai’s future. “It is an unforgettable signature (of DMK President MK Stalin) in the history (of Tamil Nadu politics),” DMK IT Wing said in a social media post claiming that the Porur-Poonamallee metro stretch was developed during its period.
