Chennai Metro Phase-2 Update: TBM Kauvery Completes Tunnelling At Adyar Junction Station

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) reached a significant milestone in its Phase-2 project with Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) 'Kauvery' completing the tunnel drive at Adyar Junction Station.

This achievement is part of Corridor 3, where tunnelling work between Greenways Station and Adyar Junction began in February 2023. The total tunnel length for this section spans 1,228 meters, including a challenging 300-meter stretch beneath the Adyar River, with an overburden of 10 to 13 meters, the CMRL said in a statement on Friday.

TBMs 'Kauvery' and 'Adyar' are Earth Pressure Balancing machines tasked with this complex tunnelling work. 'Kauvery' successfully bored through mixed geological conditions, including rock at the tunnel base and sand at the top, and navigated full-faced hard rock beneath a portion of the Adyar River. The machine also passed beneath sensitive structures such as petrol bunks, MGR Janaki College, Andhra Saba Hospital, and Adyar Bridge, the statement added.

Throughout the operation, 'Kauvery' underwent 65 cutter head interventions (CHI) to replace cutting tools, consuming 178 days in the process. The machine's breakthrough at the Adyar shaft marks a crucial point in the project. Meanwhile, the second TBM, 'Adyar,' is currently 277 meters away from the Adyar shaft and is expected to complete its journey by November 2024.

Senior officials from CMRL, including Director Projects Thiru T Archunan, and representatives from General Consultant and L&T were present during the breakthrough event. This success represents a major step forward in the Phase-2 expansion of the Chennai Metro, enhancing connectivity and urban mobility.