Chennai Metro Phase 2: TBM “Servarayan” Completes Major Tunnel Breakthrough at Moolakadai
Chennai Metro Rail Limited has achieved another significant milestone in the Chennai Metro Phase 2 project with Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) “Servarayan” successfully completing its breakthrough at the Moolakadai Metro North shaft.
The latest breakthrough is part of Corridor 3 of the Chennai Metro Phase 2 network, which is currently under construction between Madhavaram Milk Colony and Siruseri SIPCOT. Chennai Metro officials stated that the underground tunnel construction between Madhavaram High Road Metro Station and Moolakadai Metro Station has now been successfully completed on the down line.
The TBM “Servarayan” (S99), operated by Tata Projects Limited, completed a bored tunnel stretch of approximately 824.6 metres before reaching the Moolakadai North shaft. This marks the 9th TBM breakthrough achieved under the TU-01 contract package handled by Tata Projects.
With this latest development, Chennai Metro Rail Limited has now completed a total of 23 TBM breakthroughs across various underground sections of the Phase 2 metro project, showcasing rapid progress in Chennai’s expanding metro rail infrastructure.
Officials described the Madhavaram High Road–Moolakadai section as one of the most technically challenging underground stretches in the project. During tunnelling operations, the TBM successfully passed beneath the Buckingham Canal and under active traffic roads without causing disruption to the public.
The project team also addressed challenges involving more than 14 borewells located along the tunnel alignment by arranging alternate water supply sources for nearby residents and establishments.
CMRL stated that advanced monitoring systems and instrumentation were continuously used throughout the tunnel drive to ensure ground stability and maintain settlement levels within permissible safety limits.
Senior officials from Chennai Metro Rail Limited, project consultants, and Tata Projects participated in the breakthrough event.
The Chennai Metro Phase 2 project, spanning 118.9 kilometres across three major corridors, is expected to transform urban transportation in Chennai by improving connectivity, reducing traffic congestion, and enhancing public transport accessibility across the city.
