The TBM Servarayan breakthrough at Moolakadai North shaft marks another construction milestone for Chennai Metro Rail Limited under its Phase-2 programme. The tunnel drive formed part of the underground works for Corridor-3. It passed through challenging conditions beneath the Buckingham Canal and active road traffic. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

TBM Servarayan breakthrough at Moolakadai
Photo: CMRL

According to Chennai Metro Rail Limited’s project status page, the Phase-2 expansion across Chennai covers about 118.9 km over three corridors. The programme is expected to improve urban mobility. It is also expected to strengthen links between important residential and commercial areas.

Chennai Metro Phase-2 tunnelling under Corridor-3

Within Corridor-3, the first 9-km underground stretch extends from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Kellys. Tata Projects Limited is executing this section. Seven Tunnel Boring Machines have been deployed for the package.

As RailAnalysis reported, TBM “Servarayan” (S99) began its drive from Madhavaram High Road Metro Station towards Moolakadai Station on the down line. The machine completed a bored tunnel length of approximately 824.6 metres. It then broke through at the Moolakadai North shaft.

The breakthrough is the ninth completed by Tata Projects Limited under the TU-01 contract package. Across the wider Chennai Metro Phase-2 project, Chennai Metro Rail Limited has now recorded 23 TBM breakthroughs. This indicates continued progress in the city’s underground metro works.

Key project details

  • TBM Name: “Servarayan” (S99)
  • Tunnel Route: Madhavaram High Road – Moolakadai Station (Down Line)
  • Completed Tunnel Length: 824.6 metres
  • Contract Package: TU-01
  • Contractor: Tata Projects Limited
  • Total TBMs Mobilized: 7
  • Total CMRL Phase-2 TBM Breakthroughs: 23
  • Tata Projects TBM Breakthroughs under TU-01: 9

Engineering work beneath canal and traffic zones

The Madhavaram High Road to Moolakadai tunnel section was among the more technically demanding parts of the TU-01 package. Construction teams had to manage difficult geological and operational conditions. They also had to maintain safety and allow public movement to continue.

One of the main challenges was guiding TBM “Servarayan” below the Buckingham Canal and beneath a live traffic corridor. Work of this kind required careful engineering control. It also required detailed planning and continuous monitoring to avoid surface disruption.

In addition, the alignment passed through an area with more than 14 bore wells. To prevent inconvenience during the works, project teams arranged alternate water arrangements for the public during construction.

According to officials, the tunnel drive was completed with settlement levels kept within permitted limits. Instrumentation and real-time monitoring were used throughout the operation. These measures supported structural safety and efficient execution.

Senior representatives from Chennai Metro Rail Limited, the General Consultant teams and Tata Projects attended the breakthrough event. The event marked another engineering achievement in Chennai’s expanding metro network.

The completion of this drive adds to the ongoing progress of Chennai Metro Phase-2. It also shows how the project team handled canal crossings, traffic-zone tunnelling and bore-well management while continuing underground works on Corridor-3.

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