CMRL Starts Stacked Tunnelling Work Between Perambur Barracks Road and Pattalam

Chennai Metro Rail Limited has started underground tunnelling work to connect Perambur Barracks Road and Pattalam as part of the 118.9 km Phase II project. The upcoming underground network is designed to improve mobility for thousands of daily commuters travelling across residential, commercial, and small business hubs in the area, while establishing long-distance connectivity across the city to southern destinations such as Adyar.

The stretch forms a vital section of Corridor 3, which spans from Madhavaram to Siruseri SIPCOT. Once train operations commence on this corridor, travel is set to become seamless between northern localities such as Moolaikadai and Sembiyam and key southern areas including Thirumayilai, Adyar, Taramani, Thoraipakkam, Sholinganallur, and SIPCOT.

According to Chennai Metro Rail Limited officials, the underground station on Perambur Barracks Road is located near the Mosque, while the Pattalam station is being constructed near the Mahalakshmi Theatre on Strahans Road. The first tunnel boring machine deployed for this section commenced operations recently and has already bored through a distance of nearly 600 metres.

Due to space constraints at Pattalam, the underground infrastructure along this alignment is being built as a stacked tunnel, where one track line is situated directly above the other. Officials noted that the tunnel network may reach a maximum depth of approximately 30 metres along this stretch.

Engineers expect the tunnel boring machines to navigate through geological layers comprising clayey soil and weathered rock. The machine boring beneath Perambur Barracks Road must pass under several residential and commercial complexes before making a left turn into Strahans Road to reach Pattalam. CMRL officials estimate that the first tunnelling drive on this stretch will be completed in six months.