CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): Chennai Metro Phase 2 progressed as ITD Cementation’s TBM Peacock achieved Breakthrough on 23 July at Line 4’s Kodambakkam Ramp Retrieval shaft near Meenakshi College. This development was recorded under Package C4-UG02 of Line 4 of Chennai Metro Phase 2. The Line 4 spans 26.8km from Light House to Poonamallee Bypass and features 12 underground stations and 18 elevated stations.
For its first assignment, Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Peacock commenced tunnelling operations on May 2, 2024, from the Panagal Park Crossover towards the Kodambakkam Ramp Retrieval Shaft. The TBM completed a drive of 2,047 meters, which is the longest single tunnel drive executed in Chennai Phase 2 of the project.
In January 2022, ITD Cementation bagged Package C4-UG02 of Chennai Metro Phase 2 from Chennai Metro Rail Corporation (CMRL) at Rs 1846.86 crore.
CMRL’s Brief Scope: Construction of underground stations at Boat Club, Nandanam, Panagal Park, Kodambakkam, Kodambakkam Flyover, including underground crossover at Panagal Park Station and associated twin tunnel, cut & cover box, U section and ramp project start from chainage 5+150m to end chainage 10+0.27m (down line).
The 10.03 km underground section of Corridor 4 of the Chennai Metro, stretching from Light House Station to Kodambakkam Flyover, is being executed by ITD Cementation India Ltd. under two distinct contract packages: C4-UG-01 and C4-UG-02.
The primary challenge during this tunnel boring operation was navigating beneath a densely built-up urban environment. The alignment passed beneath 190 buildings, predominantly residential structures, including over 50 old buildings with potentially vulnerable foundations. Additionally, the TBM had to bore parallel to an operational railway line before crossing multiple active railway tracks, which posed geotechnical and logistical challenges.
The tunnel alignment also traversed below two churches and passed underneath the existing Kodambakkam flyover, which required precise control and monitoring to avoid any structural impact. Despite these complexities, the tunnelling operation was executed successfully, achieving the longest drive of Chennai Metro Phase 2, measuring 2.047 km without causing any disruption to public life or ongoing surface traffic.
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