Presenting the 2026-27 State Budget, Finance Minister N Marie Wilson said the 118.9 km Chennai Metro Phase II project, being implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 63,246 crore, is progressing rapidly. The initial 14.64 km stretch, comprising 11 stations from Poonamallee Bypass to Porur Junction with connectivity to the existing Vadapalani station, is scheduled to be commissioned shortly.

The government is pursuing early approval from the Union government for three proposed metro corridors: Chennai Airport to Kilambakkam, Koyambedu to Pattabiram via Avadi, and Poonamallee to Sunguvarchathiram via Sriperumbudur. It is also pushing a joint proposal with the Centre and the Karnataka government to extend a metro link from Hosur in Krishnagiri district to Bommasandra in Karnataka.

To modernise public transport, 1,000 AC electric buses will be inducted into the MTC fleet during the current financial year under the GCC model. A sum of Rs 500 crore has been earmarked in the Revised Budget Estimates for electrical and mechanical infrastructure at bus depots to support these vehicles. Overall, the Budget has allocated Rs 13,561 crore to the Transport Department, which includes Rs 7,675 crore as subsidy to State Transport Undertakings, Rs 2,650 crore as performance gap funding, and Rs 1,005 crore as share capital assistance.