+
Chennai Metro: TBM Adyar Breaks Through
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Chennai Metro: TBM Adyar Breaks Through

Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) tunnel boring machine (TBM) Adyar (S-1326A) has achieved its first breakthrough at Adyar Junction for Package TU-02 on Chennai Metro Phase 2’s Line 3. This milestone marks the fourth breakthrough in the 12 km tunnel stretch between Kellys and Taramani Road Junction stations.

The 116.1 km Phase 2 project aims to improve connectivity across Chennai, with Line 3 spanning 45.8 km and 49 stations—20 elevated and 29 underground.

A Key Milestone for Chennai Metro TBM Adyar, a 100m-long Herrenknecht earth pressure balance (EPB) machine, began its assignment at Greenways Road Station in April 2023. Over 22 months, it navigated complex geological conditions, including constructing a 300m tunnel under the Adyar River, before breaking through at Adyar Junction.

L&T has deployed eight TBMs for twin tunnel construction under Package TU-02, which involves building 24 km of tunnels.

Project Background & Scope L&T secured Package TU-02 from Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) in May 2021 for Rs. 23.85 billion ($286 million), with a 42-month deadline. The contract covers:

Twin tunnel construction between Kellys and Taramani Road Junction Diaphragm walls and entry/exit structures for Chetpet, Royapettah Government Hospital, and Thiruvanmiyur stations Partial diaphragm wall construction at Greenways Road Station Chennai Metro’s Progress on Line 3 With TBM Adyar’s breakthrough, 10 tunnel breakthroughs have been completed on Line 3. Other notable breakthroughs include:

Siruvani (DZ1040) – Sterling Road (703m) – August 2024 Kaveri (S-1327A) – Adyar Junction (1,228m) – September 2024 Palar (DZ1041) – Sterling Road (700m) – October 2024

Pushing Forward As Chennai Metro Phase 2 progresses, each breakthrough brings the city closer to a seamless urban transit system. A CMRL official noted, “These milestones reflect the dedication of our teams in overcoming challenging tunneling conditions to enhance Chennai’s metro connectivity.”

With more breakthroughs expected in the coming months, Chennai Metro continues to shape the city's urban transport landscape.

Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) tunnel boring machine (TBM) Adyar (S-1326A) has achieved its first breakthrough at Adyar Junction for Package TU-02 on Chennai Metro Phase 2’s Line 3. This milestone marks the fourth breakthrough in the 12 km tunnel stretch between Kellys and Taramani Road Junction stations. The 116.1 km Phase 2 project aims to improve connectivity across Chennai, with Line 3 spanning 45.8 km and 49 stations—20 elevated and 29 underground. A Key Milestone for Chennai Metro TBM Adyar, a 100m-long Herrenknecht earth pressure balance (EPB) machine, began its assignment at Greenways Road Station in April 2023. Over 22 months, it navigated complex geological conditions, including constructing a 300m tunnel under the Adyar River, before breaking through at Adyar Junction. L&T has deployed eight TBMs for twin tunnel construction under Package TU-02, which involves building 24 km of tunnels. Project Background & Scope L&T secured Package TU-02 from Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) in May 2021 for Rs. 23.85 billion ($286 million), with a 42-month deadline. The contract covers: Twin tunnel construction between Kellys and Taramani Road Junction Diaphragm walls and entry/exit structures for Chetpet, Royapettah Government Hospital, and Thiruvanmiyur stations Partial diaphragm wall construction at Greenways Road Station Chennai Metro’s Progress on Line 3 With TBM Adyar’s breakthrough, 10 tunnel breakthroughs have been completed on Line 3. Other notable breakthroughs include: Siruvani (DZ1040) – Sterling Road (703m) – August 2024 Kaveri (S-1327A) – Adyar Junction (1,228m) – September 2024 Palar (DZ1041) – Sterling Road (700m) – October 2024 Pushing Forward As Chennai Metro Phase 2 progresses, each breakthrough brings the city closer to a seamless urban transit system. A CMRL official noted, “These milestones reflect the dedication of our teams in overcoming challenging tunneling conditions to enhance Chennai’s metro connectivity.” With more breakthroughs expected in the coming months, Chennai Metro continues to shape the city's urban transport landscape.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor Consultancy Contract Awarded

The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation has awarded the first construction-related consultancy contract for the Lucknow Metro East West Corridor to a joint venture of AYESA Ingenieria Arquitectura SAU and AYESA India Pvt Ltd. The firm was declared the lowest bidder for the Detailed Design Consultant contract for Lucknow Metro Line-2 under Phase 1B and the contract was recommended following the financial bid. The contract is valued at Rs 159.0 million (mn), covering design services for the corridor. Lucknow Metro Line-2 envisages the construction of an 11.165 kilometre corridor connecting Cha..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Div Com Kashmir Urges Fast Tracking Of Jhelum Water Transport Project

The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has called for the fast-tracking of the Jhelum water transport project, urging district administrations and relevant agencies to accelerate planning and clearances. In a meeting convened at the divisional headquarters, the commissioner instructed officials from irrigation, public health engineering and municipal departments to prioritise the project and coordinate survey and design work. The directive emphasised removal of administrative bottlenecks and close monitoring to ensure timely mobilisation of resources and contractors. Officials were told to in..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Interarch Reports Strong Q3 And Nine Month Results

Interarch Building Solutions Limited reported unaudited results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025, recording strong revenue growth driven by execution and a robust order book. Net revenue for the third quarter rose by 43.7 per cent to Rs 5.225 billion (bn), compared with Rs 3.636 bn a year earlier, reflecting heightened demand in pre-engineered building projects. The company’s total order book as at 31 January 2026 stood at Rs 16.85 bn, supporting near-term visibility. EBITDA excluding other income for the quarter increased by 43.2 per cent to Rs 503 million (mn),..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Open In App