Chennai Metro done with its First Tunnel

Chennai Metro done with its First Tunnel

Chennai (MAS): The five-kilometre Metro Rail stretch between Koyambedu and Shenoy Nagar, which is likely to be operational by the end of 2015, has received a boost with CMRL digging the first tunnel up to Thirumangalam.

A senior Metro Rail official told City Express that while the first tunnel was drilled up to VeeCare Hospital in Thirumangalam, the other tunnel boring machine (TBM) had completed 75 per cent of the work.

The tunnel ends at Tirumangalam and from here, a ramp would be built, connecting the elevated stretch from Koyambedu-St Thomas Mount.

Meanwhile, another breakthrough has been achieved, with the TBM of Afcons-Transtonnelstroy completing its first tunnel drive from May Day Park to Central.

“The TBM had a successful breakthrough at Central advance shaft area. A total of 1,040 m of tunnelling has been completed and the TBM has crossed several buildings, including the Cooum River and Southern Railway tracks,” a CMRL official said. Metro Rail has also started working on cross passages in the underground stretch. Cross passages are provided as a connecting link between twin tunnels mainly for the purpose of safe evacuation of passengers during an emergency.

Meanwhile, a senior CMRL official stated that they were trying to meet the October deadline. But sources at the Koyambedu site said a clear picture would emerge only by next month.

The `385-crore work allotted to four construction companies to finish the 10 elevated stations is progressing smoothly. “It is likely to take another two to three months,” a senior CMRL official said. “Laying of tracks and signals on the Koyambedu-St Thomas Mount stretch is complete. The date of commissioning the elevated stretch would be known only by next month,” the official said. Laying of the concrete structure or viaduct on the elevated stretch between Guindy and Alandur would also be completed by October, he added. To a query on whether that stretch too would be inaugurated in October, the official said all gaps would be filled up.

“Then we will be laying tracks and signals. Only after this, the line will be commissioned, which is unlikely to happen in October,” he added.

Source: RailNews