Chennai Metro Rail Limited has achieved a milestone in its Phase II expansion, with tunnel boring machine Kalvarayan completing an underground stretch beneath one of the city’s busiest railway zones.

The machine completed its eight hundred sixty-seven metre journey between Ayanavaram and Perambur stations, surfacing at the Perambur south shaft. This marks the seventh breakthrough under contract by Tata Projects Limited and the eleventh overall in the Phase II project, which aims to deliver over one hundred eighteen kilometres of new metro lines.

Kalvarayan is part of the initial nine kilometre underground segment of Corridor three, which runs from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Kellys. Tata Projects Limited is constructing this stretch using seven tunnel boring machines.

This breakthrough was especially complex due to its alignment beneath active railway platforms at Perambur and dense urban areas. Engineers managed risks from over thirty borewells along the route and ensured ground settlement remained within acceptable limits.

Despite the challenges, the drive was completed without incident. The operation was supported by extensive instrumentation and continuous monitoring to ensure safety throughout the process.

Source:Express News Service