Chennai metro rail commences tunnelling at Chetpet

22 Sep 2023 CW Team

The tunnel boring machine (TBM), affectionately named "Siruvani," began tunnelling last week, covering the distance from Chetpet to Sterling Road. It will pass beneath the Cooum River for a short stretch before reaching Sterling Road.

Officials anticipate that tunnelling beneath the Adyar River will commence in the coming weeks. While the Chetpet-to-Sterling Road tunnel presents its challenges, it is considered less complex than the Adyar tunnel. Siruvani will tunnel to a maximum depth of 21 metres, with some depth variations. The tunnel's depth below the Cooum River will be approximately 13 metres. Completion of the Chetpet-Sterling Road stretch is expected to take six to eight months.

CMRL officials took meticulous measures by conducting soil tests every 25 metres to understand the geology, ensuring the selection of a suitable TBM for prevailing conditions.

Tunnelling operations initially commenced in Madhavaram, with tunnel boring machines (TBMs) subsequently deployed at other locations such as Greenways Road and LightHouse.

The Chennai Metro Rail Phase 2 project, with a budget of Rs 618.43 billion, encompasses a total length of 116 km and comprises three corridors: Madhavaram to SIPCOT, Light House to Poonamallee, and Madhavaram to Sholinganallur.

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

Mizoram To Build Rs 139 Billion Pumped Storage Power Plant

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday announced plans to construct a 2,400 MW pumped storage hydroelectric power plant in Hnahthial district, marking a major step towards achieving energy self-sufficiency in the state. Addressing the Mizo Students’ Union general conference in Hnahthial town, the Chief Minister said the plant would be developed across the Darzo Nallah, a tributary of the Tuipui river. Once operational, the project is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting Mizoram’s rising electricity demand and reducing dependence on imported power. Officials from the State Power..

Centre Plans Nationwide Opening Of Power Retail Market

India is preparing to open up its retail electricity market to private companies nationwide, effectively ending the long-standing monopoly of state-run power distributors in most regions, according to a draft bill released by the Union Power Ministry on Friday. The move will enable major private sector players — including Adani Enterprises, Tata Power, Torrent Power, and CESC — to expand their presence across the country’s electricity distribution landscape. A similar reform attempt in 2022 had faced strong opposition from state-run distribution companies (discoms), which currently dom..

CEA Sets 100 GW Nuclear Target For India By 2047

In a landmark step marking its 52nd Foundation Day, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) unveiled an ambitious roadmap to develop 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047, aligning with India’s long-term Net-Zero commitment and energy security objectives. The event, held at the Central Water Commission auditorium in New Delhi’s R.K. Puram, was attended by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, who served as the Chief Guest. The roadmap sets out a detailed plan to expand India’s nuclear capacity from its current level of approximately 8,180 MW as of early 2025, outl..