CMRL's ₹63,246 Crore Expansion Hits Key Tunnel Milestone

Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) has achieved a major milestone in its ₹63,246-crore Phase-II expansion by completing a tunnel between Ayanavaram and Perambur. The 867-meter stretch was bored using Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) ‘Kalvarayan’, which achieved breakthrough at Perambur on 13 May 2025 after over 18 months of work. This marks the 11th tunnel completed under the ongoing project.

Phase II of CMRL covers 118.9 km across three corridors—Madhavaram–SIPCOT, Light House–Poonamallee, and Madhavaram–Sholinganallur—with 42.6 km of underground sections and 48 stations planned. The Ayanavaram–Perambur tunnel is part of the Madhavaram–SIPCOT corridor.

CMRL officials noted that the tunnel posed significant challenges, particularly due to delays in completing the diaphragm wall at Perambur station—essential for the TBM breakthrough. Although over 95% of tunneling was done, progress stalled due to earlier cancellations of station construction tenders.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.