By rosebell
Chennai Metro Rail has recorded another breakthrough on its Phase 2 project.
Following completing its drive on the upline from Chetpet on Corridor 3, TBM Palar, which was commissioned in January this year, arrived at the Sterling Road shaft on 9 October, whereas TBM Siruvani, that is Palar’s twin broke through in August after completing the downline bore.
While each tunnel is 708m long, the encountered geology during the tunneling process is primarily clay and sand, along with sections of Grade V rock. The journey path of TBMs were beneath important landmarks, including the Chetpet Corporation School, Chetpet Dhoby Ghat, Karukathamman Temple, and retail areas.
Although a 52m-long stretch beneath the Coovam River, with only 6m of overburden in clay were the particularly challenging segment, Chennai Metro states the operation was executed without incident, maintaining face pressure and alignment without any blowouts.
Including 28 underground stations and 19 elevated stations, the Phase 2 project has a total length of 116.1km, while the 45.4km Corridor 3 stretches north to south across Chennai from Madhavaram Milk colony to Siruseri Sipcot.
