Chennai Metro Rail’s phase I extension, the last project that former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa inaugurated before she died, is beginning to take shape as tunnel boring machines have started boring the earth to create channels for underground network.
This line running from Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar to a distance of 9 km is crucial as it promises to benefit commuters in north Chennai. The stretch from Washermanpet to Korukkupet is underground and the remaining till Wimco Nagar, elevated.
Time-consuming
According to officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited , work on the underground stretch has been started first as it is time consuming. At present, two tunnel boring machines have commenced tunnelling from Washermanpet to Korukkupet for a distance of about 1.5 km. “We hope to finish it at least before the end of the year or early next year. Work on elevated corridor will also begin soon,” an official said.
It will be critical boring underneath these areas as they are congested. It is to be noted that the Metro Rail work caused cracks in about 200 buildings a few years ago and were later repaired. “Initially, we will be tunnelling underneath railway tracks and cemetery, and hence it may not be a problem. Only when we begin to tunnel below very old buildings, problems might arise. But, we are monitoring the buildings,” an official said.
₹3,770 crore project
The project is estimated to cost ₹3,770 crore and likely to be open to public by 2019.
Though this project is an extension of phase I which covers 45 km, it has been delayed by several years.
