Work is smooth sailing for Tata Projects in constructing the 9 km stretch of Chennai Metro Rail Limited’s Phase-II.
What’s it about? The second phase between Madhavaram and Kellys has already completed 200 metres of tunnelling. The Corridor 3 construction involves building 9 km twin bored tunnels, a retrieval shaft near Venugopal Nagar to Kellys Station, diaphragm walls of the station box, and entry and exit structures of Madhavaram Milk Colony, Murari Hospital, Ayanavaram and Purasaiwakkam High Road Stations. This stretch is set to be completed in 18-24 months.
- Tata Projects, using German trench-cutting technology for the first time, praises its suitability for working on Chennai’s terrain. The workers are using seven tunnel boring machines (TBM) to complete the work. The bulk of the work is carried out at night.
- The trouble is that the work involved in some stations is beyond their expertise. “Some of the stations to be built are not under our scope. Of the 13 stations, a total of nine stations are yet to be tendered,” reveals a senior Tata employee.
Why tunnelling? Phase 2 passes through densely populated areas like Perambur, Ayanavaram and Purusaiwalkam. This necessitates building underground tunnels in some places instead of overground lines. The tunnel boring will not upset the surface since vibrations are controlled.