The 'Nilagiri' Tunnel Boring Machine successfully reached Moolakadai Metro Station after completing an 819-metre underground tunnel from Madhavaram Highway Metro Station. This is part of the underground corridor connecting Madhavaram Milk Colony and Kellys (Purasawalkam). A total of 24 TBMs have now completed their assigned tunnelling work under Phase II. The Chennai Metro Phase II project aims to enhance connectivity, reduce travel time and provide sustainable public transportation.

TBM 'Nilagiri' achieved breakthrough at Moolakadai north shaft, completing 819-metre tunnel on up line between Madhavaram High Road Station and Moolakadai Station, part of corridor 3 (Madhavaram Milk Colony to Kellys). Tunnelling executed by Tata Projects Limited using seven TBMs for first 9 km. This is 11th TBM breakthrough. CMRL has completed 24 TBM breakthroughs under Phase 2 spanning 118.9 kilometres across three Metro corridors. Tunnel section posed significant engineering challenges: TBM passed beneath Buckingham Canal and busy traffic corridor while managing 14+ borewells. Alternate water supply arrangements provided. Entire drive completed within permissible ground settlement limits through instrumentation and monitoring.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) achieved a milestone when tunnel boring machine (TBM) "Servarayan" (S99) completed tunnelling on the down line between Madhavaram High Road station and Moolakadai station, covering approximately 824.6 metres before reaching Moolakadai North shaft.

This is the ninth TBM breakthrough completed by Tata Projects under the TU-01 package and the 23rd total TBM breakthrough under Phase-2.

The underground tunnelling work for the initial 9 km stretch between Madhavaram Milk Colony and Kellys is being executed by Tata Projects Limited using seven TBMs.

Construction challenges included:

• TBM passage beneath Buckingham Canal
• Tunnelling under live traffic corridor without disrupting surface movement
• Management of more than 14 borewells with alternative water supply systems arranged for residents

Strict monitoring ensured ground settlement remained within permissible limits. Advanced instrumentation systems were deployed for structural and public safety in densely populated areas.

Corridor-3 (Purple Line) spans 45.4 km from Madhavaram Milk Colony to SIPCOT (Siruseri) with 48 stations (28 underground, 20 elevated/at-grade). Phase-2 total estimated cost: Rs 63,246 crore. Underground and core stretches targeted for completion by 2028.

Federation of North Chennai Residents' Welfare Associations unveiled a 'People's Master Plan for Human Resources, Living and Development' for Perambur constituency at Raj Thirumana Mahal in Kaviarasu Kannadasan Nagar.

Key demands:

• Permanent closure of 50-tonne waste incinerator at Kodungaiyur; abandon proposed 2,100-tonne incinerator
• Expedite biomining of Kodungaiyur dumpyard
• Revival of 168 closed micro composting centres and 88 material recovery facilities
• Transform 352-acre Kodungaiyur dumpyard after reclamation into growth hub with eco-park, knowledge library and IT innovation park
• Metro feasibility study for new route: Mint/Washermenpet to Red Hills via Basin Bridge, Vyasarpadi, Sathyamurthy Nagar, M.K.P. Nagar, Erukkancheri, Moolakadai, Madhavaram
• Flyovers and road-widening at Basin Bridge, Moolakadai, Madhavaram High Road
• Large-scale desilting of stormwater drains; restoration of Kodungaiyur, Captain Cotton and Buckingham canals
• Rs 7.16-crore flood-prevention works for raising ground bridges at North Avenue, South Avenue, Cauvery Road in Muthamizh Nagar
• Address waterlogging in Thendral Nagar
• House-site pattas for families in Bhaktavatsalam Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Indira Nagar
• Release withheld housing allotments for 123 families in Udhayasuriyan Nagar
• Primary health centre or urban health centre in every ward
• Underground electricity cables; monthly meter readings
• Withdrawal of excessive property taxes from reassessment
• Upgrade Bhaktavatsalam Nagar football ground; acquire five acres in Lakshmi Amman Nagar for green park

• Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has started tunnelling between Perambur Barracks Road and Pattalam for the 118.9-km Phase II project.
• The work is part of Corridor 3 between Madhavaram and Siruseri SIPCOT.
• The first Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) on the stretch has completed nearly 600 metres.
• Because of space constraints near Pattalam, the underground section is being built as a stacked tunnel, with one Metro line above the other.
• The tunnel will go to a maximum depth of around 30 metres at some points.
• The TBM will pass through clayey soil and weathered rock beneath residential and commercial buildings along Perambur Barracks Road, then turn into Strahans Road and reach Pattalam.
• Perambur Barracks Road Metro station is being built near the mosque.
• Pattalam Metro station is coming up near Mahalakshmi Theatre on Strahans Road.
• CMRL expects the first tunnelling drive on this stretch to finish in about six months.
• Corridor 3 is expected to improve connectivity across north and south Chennai, linking Moolakadai, Sembiyam, Thirumayilai, Adyar, Taramani, Thoraipakkam, Sholinganallur and Siruseri SIPCOT.