Kurinji Launches Chennai Metro's Phase II Tunneling.

Tata Projects has initiated the use of the first tunnel boring machine (TBM) for Corridor 5 of the Chennai Metro Phase II expansion.

Named Kurinji, this TBM was launched at the Kolathur Ramp on February 19, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the project. Building on the success of Phase I, Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) is now advancing a 118.9 km expansion across three corridors, backed by funding from international agencies such as JICA, ADB, AIIB, and NDB. Corridor 5, which runs from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur, will feature five underground and 39 elevated stations, covering major locations like Koyambedu, Porur, and Alandur.

As part of its tunneling strategy, CMRL will deploy four TBMs, each named after Tamil landscapes: Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, and Neithal. TBM Kurinji will initially tunnel a 246-meter stretch from Kolathur Ramp to Kolathur Station by June 2025, before being relaunched toward Srinivasa Nagar. The second TBM, Mullai, is expected to be deployed in March 2025 and will dig a 603-meter tunnel from Villivakkam Railway Station to Villivakkam Bus Terminus. The other TBMs will be deployed based on site conditions.

The underground portion of Corridor 5, spanning 7.8 km, will feature twin tunnels (3.9 km each) running from Kolathur Ramp to Nathamuni Ramp.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.