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Chennai Metro Rail Limited has achieved another important milestone in the construction of its Phase-2 metro project after the tunnel boring machine named "Servarayan" completed a major underground breakthrough near Moolakadai. This breakthrough is part of Corridor-3 of the Chennai Metro Phase-2 expansion project, which is being built across the
city with a total network length of 118.9 km. The underground tunnelling work for the first 9-km section between Madhavaram Milk Colony and Kellys is being carried out by Tata Projects Limited using seven tunnel boring machines.
Chennai Metro Phase 2 Tunnelling Process
According to CMRL, TBM Servarayan completed tunnelling on the down line between Madhavaram High Road station and Moolakadai station. The machine dug through an underground stretch of around 824.6 metres before reaching the Moolakadai North shaft. This achievement is the ninth tunnel breakthrough completed by Tata Projects under the TU-01 package. With this latest success, Chennai Metro has now completed 23 TBM breakthroughs under the Phase-2 project, highlighting steady progress in one of India's biggest metro expansion works.
Why was the Tunnelling Process Challenging?
Officials said the tunnelling work was challenging because the machine had to pass under the Buckingham Canal and also beneath a busy traffic route without disturbing normal movement above the ground. To avoid any safety issues, the work was closely monitored throughout the excavation process. CMRL said advanced monitoring systems were used to ensure ground movement stayed within safe limits. These systems also helped protect nearby buildings and public infrastructure in the crowded urban area. Senior officials from Chennai Metro Rail Limited, Tata Projects, and project consultants attended the breakthrough event.
Chennai Metro Corridor 3
Corridor-3, also called the Purple Line, will cover 45.4 km from Madhavaram Milk Colony to SIPCOT at Siruseri, with 48 stations, including 28 underground and 20 elevated or ground-level stations. The total estimated cost of the Phase-2 project is around Rs 63,246 crore, and the main underground sections are expected to be completed by 2028.