Chennai Metro Phase II: Tunnelling to Begin at Kolathur
13 Feb 2025
2 Min Read
CW Team
Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is set to begin tunnelling work for Phase II between Kolathur and Villivakkam within the next two weeks, marking a significant milestone in the city's ?632 billion ($7.6 billion) metro expansion.
Phase II comprises three corridors: Madhavaram to SIPCOT (Corridor 3), Light House to Poonamallee (Corridor 4), and Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (Corridor 5). While substantial progress has been made in Corridors 3 and 4, the underground stretch of Corridor 5 has been delayed by over a year.
CMRL officials have confirmed that tunnelling will begin this month at Kolathur, with the tunnel boring machine (TBM) 鈥楰urinji鈥� already in position. This crucial five-kilometre underground section will feature metro stations at Kolathur Junction, Srinivasa Nagar, Villivakkam Metro, Villivakkam Bus Terminus, and Villivakkam MTH Road.
Corridor 5 starts as an elevated stretch from Madhavaram to Retteri before going underground at Kolathur Junction. It will remain underground until Villivakkam MTH Road, after which it resurfaces and continues elevated to Sholinganallur via Madipakkam.
Once operational, the corridor will enhance connectivity for residents of Kolathur and Villivakkam, linking them directly to key locations like Mylapore, Adyar, and the IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR). Villivakkam will benefit from three metro stations, improving accessibility and reducing travel time.
Preparatory work for tunnelling is in progress, and CMRL officials remain optimistic about the excavation between Kolathur and Srinivasa Nagar due to the mostly clayey soil, with only minor rocky patches near Srinivasa Nagar.
Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is set to begin tunnelling work for Phase II between Kolathur and Villivakkam within the next two weeks, marking a significant milestone in the city's ?632 billion ($7.6 billion) metro expansion.
Phase II comprises three corridors: Madhavaram to SIPCOT (Corridor 3), Light House to Poonamallee (Corridor 4), and Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (Corridor 5). While substantial progress has been made in Corridors 3 and 4, the underground stretch of Corridor 5 has been delayed by over a year.
CMRL officials have confirmed that tunnelling will begin this month at Kolathur, with the tunnel boring machine (TBM) 鈥楰urinji鈥� already in position. This crucial five-kilometre underground section will feature metro stations at Kolathur Junction, Srinivasa Nagar, Villivakkam Metro, Villivakkam Bus Terminus, and Villivakkam MTH Road.
Corridor 5 starts as an elevated stretch from Madhavaram to Retteri before going underground at Kolathur Junction. It will remain underground until Villivakkam MTH Road, after which it resurfaces and continues elevated to Sholinganallur via Madipakkam.
Once operational, the corridor will enhance connectivity for residents of Kolathur and Villivakkam, linking them directly to key locations like Mylapore, Adyar, and the IT corridor along Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR). Villivakkam will benefit from three metro stations, improving accessibility and reducing travel time.
Preparatory work for tunnelling is in progress, and CMRL officials remain optimistic about the excavation between Kolathur and Srinivasa Nagar due to the mostly clayey soil, with only minor rocky patches near Srinivasa Nagar.
Next Story
MoHUA Plans New Role for Smart City SPVs
In a significant policy move, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has issued an advisory encouraging the continued use and repurposing of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) formed under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM). This marks a step toward sustaining urban transformation by leveraging institutional capabilities and infrastructure developed over the past decade.Initiated in 2015, the Smart Cities Mission introduced a new era of urban planning in India, with each of the 100 selected cities forming SPVs under the Companies Act, 2013. These entities, jointly owned by state government..
Next Story
ADB Approves $110 Million Loan to Boost Skills in Gujarat
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 109.97 million (Rs 9.27 billion) results-based loan to support Gujarat鈥檚 efforts to become a global industrial hub by developing a future-ready, skilled workforce.The funding will back the Gujarat skills development programme, led by the Department of Labour, Skill Development and Employment in collaboration with Kaushalya: The Skill University (KSU). The initiative aims to equip the workforce with advanced, industry-aligned skills to meet rising employment demand in high-growth sectors.According to ADB, the programme seeks to strengthen in..
Next Story
SDAL Tests Rudrastra UAV and Bhargavastra Defence System
Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) has successfully completed a key flight test of its indigenous Hybrid VTOL UAV Rudrastra at the Pokharan Firing Range, aligning with Indian Army performance benchmarks for mission adaptability, high endurance, precision engagement, and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability.The trial marks a notable achievement in India鈥檚 Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, underscoring advancements in home-grown military technology. The Rudrastra UAV demonstrated a mission radius exceeding 50 km with uninterrupted video relay, a total operational range of over..
