Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has achieved a significant milestone in its Phase II project with Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) “Bhavani” completing a 910-metre tunnelling stretch between Royapettah and RK Salai stations on Corridor-3. The breakthrough was witnessed by T. Archunan, Director (Projects), along with senior CMRL officials, representatives from Larsen & Toubro (L&T), and the project consultant team.The tunnelling work, executed by L&T Ltd., passes beneath key landmarks including Royapettah High Road, Peters Bridge, and the heritage Royapettah Eye Hospital, with an overburden ranging from 8 to 14 metres. This accomplishment marks the fifth TBM breakthrough under contract TU02 of the Phase II project.
CMRL officials highlighted that two additional TBMs, operating along the stretch from Greenways Road to Mandaveli, are expected to achieve breakthroughs in the near future, further advancing the project’s progress.
The Phase II expansion of Chennai Metro Rail aims to enhance urban mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and provide faster, safer, and more reliable public transport across the city. The successful tunnelling work underlines CMRL’s commitment to completing the project efficiently while ensuring minimal disruption to urban infrastructure.
With continued progress across multiple TBM operations, CMRL is steadily moving towards the completion of Corridor-3, which is expected to significantly improve connectivity between key residential and commercial areas in Chennai.