Metro tunnelling in Royapettah is expected to begin in September, according to officials. This locality nestled in the heart of Chennai and known for its congestion, will witness the deployment of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) previously engaged near the Adyar River. This TBM will be relocated to Royapettah, marking a significant step in the construction of the 45.8km corridor-3 of phase-2, extending from Madhavaram Milk Colony in the north to Siruseri Sipcot in the south. The launching shaft for the TBM is prepared in Royapettah. Once its work in Adyar is concluded, it will undergo refurbishment before being transported and launched here. Given the intricate process involved, we anticipate commencing tunnelling operations in Royapettah by September, explained a metro rail engineer at the site. Subsequently, the TBM will be retrieved in Thousand Lights area. Presently, two TBMs operating from Greenways Road to Adyar junction via Adyar River are slated to complete tunnelling by June. One of these machines will subsequently transition to Royapettah. Earlier announcements by M A Siddique , MD, CMRL have outlined plans for phase-2's 116.1km expansion, set to open gradually to the public between 2025 and 2028. The construction of the walls and its launching shaft encountered challenges, owing to heavy traffic at the bustling Westcott Road-Peter?s Road junction. To mitigate disruptions, engineers devised a strategy involving the sequential diversion of traffic to facilitate construction. The on-going metro rail construction has significantly impacted traffic flow in the area, causing congestion near Royapettah GH on Peter?s Road during peak hours. Residents, like S Vikram, have reported difficulties navigating the area, emphasizing the need for efficient traffic management amid on-going infrastructure development. (Source: TOI)