Chennai Metro Near Thousand Lights: Stations and Lines

Which metro line serves Thousand Lights?

Chennai Metro has two operating lines, the Blue Line and the Green Line, with the Blue Line running from Wimco Nagar Depot to Chennai Airport. Thousand Lights station is an underground station on the Blue Line, which opened on February 10, 2019. It has four gates, A1 to A4, and its name comes from the nearby Thousand Lights Mosque.

A future Purple Line is planned to meet the Blue Line here, but it is not yet running, so for now Thousand Lights is simply a stop on one line. Embassy Park is on Anna Salai in Thousand Lights, and Thousand Lights Metro is within walking distance.

What are the stations to the north and south?

Going north towards Wimco Nagar the next stations are LIC, Government Estate, Central, High Court and Mannadi. Going south towards the airport they are AG-DMS, Teynampet, Nandanam and Saidapet, then Little Mount, Guindy, Alandur, Nanganallur Road, Meenambakkam and the airport itself.

Teynampet is a commercial area with offices along Anna Salai, and Guindy is an interchange with the suburban rail line. Treat these as a map of where the line can take you, and check the official route map for exact station layouts.

• North: LIC, Government Estate, Central, High Court, Mannadi
• South: AG-DMS, Teynampet, Nandanam, Saidapet, Little Mount, Guindy, Alandur
• End of the line: Chennai Airport

How do you change to the Green Line?

The Green Line runs from Chennai Central to St. Thomas Mount. Central is the interchange with the Blue Line, and Alandur is the second interchange. Egmore is the first stop after Central on the Green Line, followed by Nehru Park, Kilpauk and Pachaiyappa's College, and later Anna Nagar and Koyambedu.

So to reach Egmore from Thousand Lights, ride the Blue Line to Central, which is three stops, change to the Green Line and ride one stop. Koyambedu, home to a large bus terminal, is further along the Green Line.

How do tickets and timings work?

Wikipedia reports that trains run from 5 AM to 11 PM, and that the Blue Line runs about every 6 minutes at peak and 12 minutes off-peak. Tickets include tokens, stored-value cards, QR tickets via the CMRL app and NCMC cards, with a reported fare range of Rs 10 to Rs 50. We could not open the official timetable page, so confirm hours and fares at chennaimetrorail.org.

The official site also lists a 24-hour helpline, 1860-425-1515, which may help if you are stuck.

When is the metro the right choice?

The metro works well for the airport run, Central or Egmore, and for crossing the city at peak times when Anna Salai traffic is slow. For a short trip to the US Consulate General, walking from the hotel is usually easier, as the consulate is a few minutes away.

If you are visiting Embassy Park for a business trip or a visa appointment, the room features support both: a work desk, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and a tea and coffee maker in every room, with rates from Rs 2,800 per night. Reconfirm the rate when you book.

A practical habit is to check the first and last train times for your line before any late evening plan. If you expect to be out after the metro closes, agree your cab back in advance, and keep the hotel's number and address saved. The 24-hour reception at the hotel means the door is open whatever time you return.

What about buses and the main railway station?

Wikipedia notes that Thousand Lights station connects to Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus routes, including 1A, 1B, 3A, 5C and 11, from the nearby Anand Theatre bus stand, with more than 40 further routes listed. Bus routes change, so check the current route on the day if you plan to use one.

Chennai Central is the major interchange. The Central metro station is where the Blue and Green Lines cross, and it also links to the suburban lines at Moore Market and Chennai Park and to the MRTS at Park Town. The main railway station has 17 platforms, with its main entrance on Poonamallee High Road. Allow plenty of time to walk between the railway concourse and the metro in a big station, especially with luggage.

If you are new to the system, use the metro for one straightforward trip first, such as Thousand Lights to Central, to learn how the gates and tickets work. Chennai Metro also lists a travel planner tool on its official site, which may help you check routes before you leave the room. To book, call or WhatsApp +91 72007 60076 with your dates and number of guests, and ask the team to reconfirm the current rate and any taxes before you travel.