Metro Rail Project – Work under full swing – Digging tunnel under Cooum River commenced
Posted on: 09/May/2014 3:50:56 PM
A metro rail project official informed that the challenging part of the project, which involves the digging of tunnel under the Cooum River has just started.
There are 2 corridors in the project – the first from Washermanpet to Chennai City Aiport, and the second from Central Railway Station to St. Thomas Mount. This covers total distance of 45 km. Out of this, 24 km of the track is underground.
The tunnelling work started on 28th July, 2012 at the Nehru Park. 12 Special tunnel-boring machines have been imported from China. Tunnelling work for the underground track at 20 metres below the ground level is progressing at good speed at Nehru Park, Washermanpet, May Day Park, Saidapet, Shenoy Nagar, and Anna Nagar.
Approximately 36 km of tunnelling work is to be done considering both the corridors. Out of this 36 km, 16 km tunnelling has been completed up to yesterday (8th May). The balance tunnelling is scheduled be completed in another 2 years’ time.
The most important section of tunnelling situated in Anna Salai area, the heart of Chennai city was completed a few days earlier.
Tunnelling work in the section between May Day Park & Central Railway Station is in progress over the last few months. This is the most challenging part of the project. Why? In most other areas, tunnelling is done at just 17 to 20 metres below the ground level. This is not possible for the tunnelling work under the Cooum River. It will require tunnelling work under 30 metres below the ground level.
Till recently, the tunnelling work between May Day Park & Central railway Station was in progress. A distance of 750 metres of tunnelling has been completed and it is all set to start tunnelling work under the Cooum River.
The tunnelling work under the Cooum is expected to be completed in a few weeks’ time. The tunnelling work will end at the Chennai Central railway Station.
