Chennai Metro for Visitors: Lines, Tickets and Fares Explained

How does the Chennai Metro network work?

Chennai Metro has two lines. The Blue Line runs from Wimco Nagar to the airport and the Green Line from Central to St Thomas Mount, according to Wikipedia. They meet at Central, the main interchange, where subways connect the metro to Chennai Central railway station.

Thousand Lights and AG-DMS are on the Blue Line, and both are within a short walk of Hotel Royal Inn, by the hotel's own figures: about 4 and 5 minutes. Egmore is on the Green Line.

The metro has underground and raised stations, all air conditioned, with trains running about every 6 minutes at peak on the Blue Line and every 12 minutes at peak on the Green Line, per Wikipedia. Further lines are under construction, so the network may change; check the official site.

What are the operating hours?

The network overview says trains run from about 5 AM to 11 PM. The official website has a time table section, so confirm the timings for your day, especially on Sundays and public holidays when schedules may differ.

If you have an early train or flight, check the first train time for your station. If you plan to return late, check the last train and keep a cab app ready as a backup.

The Chennai Metro website lists a 24-hour helpline at 1860-425-1515 and a women's helpline at 155370. Save them if you travel alone or with elderly relatives.

On busy days such as public holidays, platforms and carriages can be crowded. Keep your bag in front of you, hold on in the carriage and let people exit before you board. Station staff are generally helpful if you ask.

What tickets can you buy?

Single journey tokens, a National Common Mobility Card, trip cards, tourist cards and QR tickets through the mobile app are listed in the network overview. The official website mentions a Singara Chennai Card and group or family tickets.

The Chennai One app, launched in September 2025, offers a single QR ticket for MTC buses, the metro and suburban trains, according to The Week. It is useful if you plan to mix modes.

For a short visit, a QR ticket on your phone is often the easiest. For a longer stay, ask a station staff member which card or pass suits your pattern.

• Single journey token or QR ticket for a short visit
• Smart card for repeat trips
• Chennai One app for mixed bus, metro and train journeys

What do fares cost?

A fare revision reported in February 2021 set distance slabs of Rs 10 up to 2 km, Rs 20 for 2 to 5 km, Rs 30 for 5 to 12 km, Rs 40 for 12 to 21 km and Rs 50 beyond 21 km. It also reported a 20 per cent discount for QR or smart card tickets and a 50 per cent discount on Sundays and public holidays for daily tickets.

Fares can change, and those figures are several years old, so check the Chennai Metro Rail fare table before you rely on them. Use the numbers as a rough guide, not as a promise.

For a family, group or family tickets may save money. Ask at the counter.

How do you use the metro well as a visitor?

Travel in off-peak hours if you can, because trains and platforms are calmer. Keep your ticket handy until you exit. Follow the lines on the floor, and use lifts if you have luggage or a mobility concern.

Accessibility is uneven. Citizen Matters notes that stations have lifts, ramps and tactile paving, but that flooring, ramps and platform gaps can be difficult for some passengers. If someone in your group needs support, ask station staff for help.

From the hotel, a typical journey is a 4 minute walk to Thousand Lights Metro, a ride to your destination and an auto for the last stretch if needed. In rain, carry an umbrella and keep documents in a plastic sleeve.

How do you plan a day of metro sightseeing from the hotel?

The metro is a useful base for day trips. From Thousand Lights, you can reach Central for railway connections, Egmore for its station, Guindy for the southern part of the city and the airport at the end of the Blue Line. Check which station is nearest to each place you want to visit, and plan the last stretch by auto.

Start early, when it is cooler, and return before the evening peak. Carry water and a charged phone. Keep small change for autos. If you travel on a Sunday or a public holiday, check the timetable and fares, since both may differ.

At the end of the day, return to the room, rest and eat. The 1BHK Room, with its in-room kitchenette, lets you make something simple if you do not want to go out again.