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New Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
CMRL achieves milestone as TBM ‘Peacock' completes longest Phase 2 tunnel without disruptions
CHENNAI: CMRL crossed a major engineering milestone on Wednesday with the successful retrieval of tunnel boring machine 'Peacock' at the Kodambakkam ramp near Meenakshi College, completing the longest underground work of its Phase 2 drive without public disruption. The 2.047-km bored tunnel is part of Corridor 4, a 26.8 km stretch that will eventually link Light House and Poonamallee Bypass. The TBM, designated DL-1074, was launched in May 2024 from Panagal Park crossover and has since traversed densely built residential areas, passing under more than 190 buildings — including over 50 ageing structures — and two churches, while boring parallel to an active railway line before cutting across multiple tracks. Despite the engineering complexity and urban sensitivities, CMRL officials confirmed that no damage or disturbance was reported during the entire excavation. The breakthrough marks the completion of the single longest tunnel in Phase 2. CMRL Director (Projects) T Archunan, alongside senior officials from contractor ITD Cementation India Ltd and project consultants, attended the retrieval event at Arcot Road.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Time of India
St Thomas Mt to be key S Chennai hub
Chennai: To streamline operations and eliminate mid-journey transfers, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is extending corridor five from Alandur to St Thomas Mount with a new 1.25km elevated viaduct. The new link, running parallel to the existing elevated structure, will have two tacks for up trains and two for down — transforming Mount into a full-scale interchange between corridors two (St Thomas Mount-Chennai Central) and five (Madhavaram-Sholinganallur). As per the original plan, commuters travelling from Madhavaram towards southern suburbs such as Madipakkam, Medavakkam, or Sholinganallur had to get down at Alandur and board another train to continue. With the revised alignment, trains can now run uninterrupted. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai To make space for this expanded alignment, CMRL acquired additional land and will also demolish portions of corridor two infrastructure near Railway Station Road, adjusting curves to accommodate the new link, said T Archunan, director (projects), CMRL. He also mentioned that a new building and passenger facilities will come up at Mount on vacant land, establishing it as a key southern transit node, on par with Alandur. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cuối cùng, chơi miễn phí game chiến thuật hay nhất 2025! Sea of Conquest Phát ngay Undo The project gains greater significance as St Thomas Mount is also set to connect with the MRTS network, though the last leg from Velachery has remained incomplete for more than a decade. Commuters welcomed CMRL's initiative but criticised Southern Railway for the stagnation. "CMRL is working with long-term passenger convenience in mind. But Southern Railway has left the MRTS stretch hanging for years," said V Shankar, a Velachery commuter. "If MRTS was handed over to CMRL, it would've been completed by now." Southern Railway said in the past that delays on the Velachery–Mount MRTS leg were due to metro work. CMRL officials, however, said that all related metro work on that stretch near Thillai Ganga Nagar and Mount was completed long ago, and that the delay is unrelated to their operations. With CMRL targeting a 2026 launch for corridor five, commuters hope that if the MRTS leg is handed over in time, both networks could open together, finally bridging one of the city's most stubborn connectivity gaps.
New Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
CMRL wins twin awards for sustainability, gender equality
CHENNAI: Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has won top honours in the categories of Environmental Protection and Gender Equality at the Global GreenTech Environmental and Sustainability Awards 2025. The awards have been handed over by the Greentech Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in New Delhi, at its annual summit. M A Siddique, managing director of CMRL, received the awards at a ceremony attended by other senior officials including director (Projects) T Archunan, director (Finance) S Krishnamoorthy, and chief advisor (Environment & Gender) Dr Rajeev K Srivastava. The Gender Equality recognition comes in the wake of the metro operator implementing inclusive recruitment, training, and leadership development policies, while prioritising workplace safety and equal opportunity for all employees, a press release said. Over the past year, the agency has also stepped up its efforts in energy efficiency, water conservation, carbon emission reduction, and climate-resilient infrastructure planning. These measures have been instrumental in reducing operational costs, the release said. 'This is not just about awards - it's about embedding sustainability and inclusion into every layer of our operations,' said Siddique.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Chennai metro installs longest precast u girder at ramapuram and plans corridor extension
On Monday, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) marked a new milestone with the installation of the country's longest precast U-girder — a 33.33m span — at Ramapuram, as part of Phase 2 Corridor 5 (Madhavaram-Sholinganallur). This surpasses the previous national record of 31m held by Bengaluru Metro. While most girders in Chennai measure about 25m, with 30m spans seen along OMR, this achievement was realised in collaboration with general consultant AEON and contractor L&T. U-girders are large, concrete beams positioned between two pillars to support metro tracks and enable faster construction, improved load handling, and quieter train operations, especially beneficial in dense urban stretches such as Ramapuram. Typically, longer spans at traffic junctions and U-turns are built using steel girders to accommodate future road widening. However, CMRL opted for a longer U-girder outside the L&T headquarters, combining structural efficiency with aesthetic design. "This will also help us cut costs to nearly half of what a steel girder would require," says CMRL Director (Projects) T Archunan. Casting the 225-tonne girder required specially fabricated moulds and complex pre-tensioning processes to ensure quality. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Calcule cuánto podría ganar invirtiendo $200 en Amazon CFD's y otras acciones de indetenible Undo Six such girders were launched over three spans, with two girders per span. To transport each girder from the Kolapancheri casting yard 18km away, L&T deployed multi-axle trailers and secured police permission to divert traffic and clear hindrances en route. Once onsite, the installation process was completed within five days. CMRL officials confirmed that similar long-span U-girders would be considered in future alignments to optimise cost and execution timelines. In a related development, the Tamil Nadu govt granted in-principle approval to extend Chennai Metro Phase-II Corridor 4 (Light House-Poonamalle) to Parandur in two stages, aimed at connecting the upcoming greenfield airport and the intercity bus terminal at Kuthambakkam. According to a govt order dated May 30, the project will span 52.94 km and be executed in two phases: Phase-I (Poonamallee–Sunguvarchatram, 27.9 km) was cleared for implementation at an estimated ₹8,779 crore. The detailed project report, prepared by Aarvee Associates and submitted by CMRL, was approved by the state and recommended to the Centre for funding on an equity-sharing basis and through external loan assistance.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
2 more flyovers to free up OMR
Chennai: Two new flyovers are set to be constructed to ease bottlenecks on Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and allow free turns from Velachery. The unidirectional flyovers at SRP Tools Junction and Perungudi will improve connectivity for motorists travelling from Velachery towards Thiruvanmiyur, Thoraipakkam, and Sholinganallur. The 90-crore projects will run parallel to the ongoing Metro Rail construction on Corridor 3 (Madhavaram-Siruseri). The first flyover at SRP Tools Junction will be 760m long with two sharp 90-degree turns — a double-bent design. Motorists from Velachery can use a ramp to turn left, then right, and descend near LB Road in Thiruvanmiyur, bypassing signals. This will also offer Thoraipakkam-bound vehicles a signal-free right turn. The flyover will have two lanes and will run above ground, while metro rail track remains underground at this location, said T Archunan, Director (Projects), CMRL. The second flyover, at Apollo Hospital Junction in Perungudi, will be 615 metres long and 5.5 metres wide, functioning as a one-and-a-half-lane structure. It will allow vehicles coming from Velachery and Dr Ambedkar Law University to take a free right turn onto OMR, eliminating the need to halt at signals. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo This flyover will be built beneath the elevated metro rail viaduct, making construction more complex due to limited space on MGR Road and the need to land the ramp on the left side of OMR without disrupting straight-moving traffic. Currently, vehicles heading right take a forced left and travel nearly 500 metres before making a U-turn, causing severe congestion—especially during the monsoon. The flyovers could eliminate this detour and reduce chokepoints. CMRL officials say construction will begin after finalising bids. Since no land acquisition is required, work can begin quickly. Final designs were prepared in consultation with traffic police. However, residents fear short-term congestion will worsen during construction due to existing metro work.
