Work goes on underground as Kathri heats the earth above
Posted on: 10/May/2013 3:22:11 PM
Workers of the Chennai Metro Rail project are happy to spend time in the sun, unlike the others who yearn for the shade. This is because many of them work hours together underground. These workers are from China, Nepal, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. They work upto 12 hours at a stretch under ground.
‘“I am more or less used to the climate in the city but it is still a struggle to work inside the tunnel during summer with the high levels of humidity. A good ventilation system is in place; nonetheless the atmosphere is very different from ground levels’, says a Chinese worker.
‘While there are no exhausts in place, we do have forced air circulation inside the tunnel and this provides for adequate ventilation. Also, we measure the temperature about 2-3 times a day
and try maintaining it around 30-32 degree Celsius. Thus, while the temperature is lesser underground, the suffocation levels will definitely be higher since the air circulation is lower here’, said a Metro Rail official.
