After two years, Chennai Metro Rails tunnel from Greenways Road to Mandaveli to be accomplished in October

After a protracted delay, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) ‘Noyyal’ will lastly full the tunnel between Greenways Road and Mandaveli in October for Chennai Metro Rail’s part II venture.

Greenways Road to Mandaveli is a small underground stretch and part of hall 3 of the part II venture that runs from Madhavaram to SIPCOT by way of Mandaveli for 45.8 km.

In September 2023, ‘Noyyal’ started its mission at Greenways Road Metro Rail station web site to create a close to 750-m tunnel until Mandaveli. Behind it, the TBM ‘Vaigai’ too adopted go well with. According to officers of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), there have been a couple of causes for the delay in finishing the dual tunnels between Greenways Road and Mandaveli. Initially, CMRL officers estimated that in six months, the tunnels might be accomplished.

But one of many largest challenges was shifting of utilities to construct the diaphragm wall of the Mandaveli station.

‘Major challenges’

“We needed to shift 4 huge water and sewer pipelines to construct the diaphragm wall. For constructing a shaft of the station, we needed to divert the utilities after which restore it to the unique location. There have been two main water pipelines we needed to transfer, with one being 800 mm in diameter and the opposite being one metre in diameter. Also, two huge sewer strains which have been of 900 mm diameter and 1.2 m diameter needed to be shifted. For the diversion of those pipelines, a pumping nicely needed to be constructed too. It was way more tough than what we had anticipated and therefore took a very long time,” an official stated.

‘Delay by contractor’

Since Mandaveli is a junction, the diversion of those utilities was much more difficult. The final a part of the diaphragm wall is being constructed and can be completed shortly. “The contractor constructing the station too delayed the work. But we did put strain, and work can be completed shortly,” one other official stated.

Due to the delay within the development of the Mandaveli station, the TBM has been stationed outdoors the station for some time now. The breakthrough in Mandaveli is anticipated in about two-three weeks. By 2028, practice operations from Greenways Road to Thirumayilai by way of Mandaveli are scheduled to be opened to the general public.