'Made In India' Tunnel Boring Machines To Be Used For Chennai Metro Phase-II Project

Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) will use indigenous tunnel boring equipment for its Phase II project. It is in contrast to the earlier ten years, when China, Russia, and German-made machinery were used.

According to CMRL officials, 12 of the 23 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to be used in the project will be from Tamil Nadu, five from China, one from Germany, and one from Pune.

Four TBMs' current state is unknown because the contract for the section of Corridor 5 between Kolathur and Nathamuni has not been granted yet.

“Of the 12 machines in Tamil Nadu, 10 will be manufactured in Chennai and two in Kancheepuram. After the remanufacturing process is complete, the company will have it certified for use from the original manufacturer after which it will be used here,” an official said, reports The Hindu.

Another official stated that as the alignment is still undergoing certain alterations, the number of stations would undoubtedly change in the upcoming months.

26.7 km of Corridor 3's 45.81 km length from Madhavaram to SIPCOT would be underground. Ten kilometers of Corridor 4, a 26-kilometer route connecting Light House and Poonamallee, will also be underground. There is another 5.8 km underground section of Corridor 5, which connects Madhavaram and Shollinganallur, which spans 47 km.

The second TBM, which has passed the factory acceptance test, will shortly be transported to the building site while the first TBM has already left China and arrived in Madhavaram. Between October and June of next year, "these 19 TBMs will be commissioned for the Phase II project one after the other.

The expansion of Metro Phase II is planned with a network length of 118.9 km with 128 stations. It consists of three corridors, namely Corridor -3 - From Madhavaram to SIPCOT (45.8 km), Corridor - 4 - From Lighthouse to Poonamalle Bypass (26.1 km), Corridor - 5 - From Madhavaram at Sholinganallur (47 km).

The estimated cost of the project is‌‌ Rs 63,246 crore. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.