• 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.

• Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has started tunnelling work for Phase II of the metro project between Perambur Barracks Road and Pattalam in Chennai.
• The underground stretch is part of the 118.9 km Phase II project and falls on Corridor 3 from Madhavaram to Siruseri SIPCOT.
• The network is expected to improve mobility for commuters in Perambur Barracks Road and Pattalam, both areas with small businesses, commercial establishments and residential buildings.
• The corridor is expected to make travel seamless to Moolaikadai, Sembiyam, Thirumayilai, Adyar, Taramani, Thoraipakkam, Sholinganallur and SIPCOT when operations begin.
• The Pattalam station is being built near Mahalakshmi Theatre on Strahans Road; the Perambur Barracks Road station is near the mosque.
• The first tunnel boring machine has already bored nearly 600 metres.
• The tunnel is being built as a stacked tunnel, with one line above the other, because of limited space at Pattalam.
• The stretch may reach a maximum depth of about 30 metres.
• The TBM will bore through clayey soil and weathered rock, and will pass under residential and commercial complexes before turning left into Strahans Road and reaching Pattalam.
• Officials estimate the first tunnelling drive will be completed in six months.

• Residents of K M Garden in Pattalam staged a protest by wading through sewage water-filled streets after stagnant sewage remained around their houses for over four days.
• The recent spell of rain worsened conditions, leaving the locality inundated and unhygienic.
• After the protest, corporation workers pumped out the sewage water; it was mostly cleared by Sunday evening.
• Residents said sludge was only partially removed and asked officials to finish cleaning immediately.
• A resident said even light rain causes severe stagnation of rainwater and sewage water, stormwater drains are old and cannot carry rainwater, and road damage occurred during Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board drinking water pipeline works.
• He said sludge must be cleared thoroughly, roads re-laid, manholes properly desilted, and measures taken to prevent stagnation.
• A corporation official said two 1000 mm sewage pipes of CMWSSB burst after diversion of lines for the Ganesapuram subway works.
• Sewage overflowed from the damaged main line; with the pumping station shut down, wastewater entered low-lying areas of K M Garden and nearby parts of Pattalam.
• The official said the damaged line has been repaired, overflow has stopped, stagnant sewage has been cleared, and roads will also be re-laid properly by this month.

Residents of Pattalam and Pulianthope in Chennai have been affected by drinking water contaminated by sewage for over 10 days, causing residents to fall ill. Affected areas include Munnuswamy Nagar, Parthasarathy Street, and Guruswamy Nagar in Pulianthope, and Pattalam. Recent rain (3.13 cm average rainfall recorded by GCC's ICCC within 24 hours since October 17, with peaks at Wimco Nagar 7.7 cm, Ennore 7 cm, Thiruvottiyur 6.3 cm) caused water stagnation mixing with sewage. Residents reported foul odour and discolouration in drinking water supply and suspect damaged sewer lines. Cases of loose stools, particularly affecting children, were reported at hospitals. Residents unable to draw clean water from common roadside pumps have resorted to collecting water from next streets. Greater Chennai Corporation acknowledged contamination in stagnated water was due to damage in metro water pipeline and stated it was pumping out sewage water and cleaning affected areas. Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board did not respond to requests for comment. Kannagi Nagar also urged drainage and stormwater drain desilting before November-December rains to prevent waterlogging, and relaying of damaged roads with potholes.