CHENNAI:
Chennai Metro Rail Limited has achieved a major engineering milestone by successfully constructing a new underground tunnel beneath an existing operational Metro line without disrupting passenger services on the Blue Line.
The new tunnels are part of the underground stretch between Kodambakkam and Panagal Park. The twin tunnels, each measuring around 5.8 metres in diameter, are being constructed more than 20 metres below ground, while the existing operational Metro tunnels are located around 10 metres below the surface.
The work was carried out with careful monitoring to ensure that the ongoing services between Chennai Airport and Wimco Nagar were not affected. The successful completion of the tunnelling operation marks an important step in the expansion of Chennai’s Metro network.
According to CMRL, the Kodambakkam-Panagal Park underground stretch is expected to be completed around June 2027. The project is expected to improve connectivity through some of the city’s important residential and commercial areas once commissioned.