Chennai metro’s first-ever tunnel beneathAdyar River

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Chennai's metro rail project reached a historic milestone as the 'Kaveri'

tunnel boring machine successfully entered river Adyar, marking the

first-ever metro tunnel beneath its waters.

The occasion marks a significant step forward in connecting the

Greenways Road and Adyar Junction stations, expanding the city's

metro network.

The 'Kaveri' Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) played a key role in this

achievement. The journey of the TBM began in February 2023 at the

Greenways Road Station, part of Corridor 3 in Phase-II of the Chennai

Metro Rail Project. 

Last week, the Kaveri TBM entered the Adyar River, covering 583

meters before reaching the riverbed. The Adyar TBM, a partner to the

Kaveri, is closely following and expected to join within 20 days. 

These boarding machines will tunnel beneath DB Road and the iconic

Thiru Vi Ka. Bridge ultimately connecting to the Adyar Junction Station

"Kaveri's success exemplifies the project's dedication and brings

Chennai closer to a smoother, more extensive metro network," a

Chennai Metro statement read.

T Archunan, Director (Projects) along with Rekha Prakash, CGM (P&D),

T Livingstone Eliazer, CGM (PP&D) and several other officials and staff,

witnessed the significant moment.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has recently launched tunneling

operations in Royapettah as part of its ambitious Phase II Project.

The latest development in the expansion of the state capital's metro

network sees the tunnel boring machine (TBM) Bhavani carving its path

towards RK Salai.

The extensive Phase II Project includes the construction of an

underground station in Royapettah, with a substantial investment of Rs.

250 Crore allocated for this segment of Corridor 3, which stretches

from Madhavaram to SIPCOT

The Royapettah Metro station, designed to be situated beneath

Westcott Road, will be constructed at a depth of 21.5 meters. The

station will measure 150 meters in length and 22 meters in width

CMRL officials have outlined that a total of four TBMs will be deployed

from the Royapettah site. Of these, two will tunnel towards RK Salai,

while the remaining two will head towards Thousand Lights.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) began tunneling in Royapettah last

week with tunnel boring machine (TBM) ‘Bhavani’ making its way

towards R.K. Salai.

Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister Udayanidhi Stalin

launched the TBM and also reviewed the Chennai Metro Rail’s Phase II

and other upcoming projects, including the common ticketing system,

Airport-Kilambakkam, Koyambedu-Avadi, and Poonamallee-Parandur

stretches, and Coimbatore and Madurai Metros.