Chennai Metro Rail Limited has commenced the expansion of the Chennai city’s metro rail network as part of Phase II after the successful completion of the Phase I and Phase I Extension Corridors in stages since June 2015 and the growing ridership in Corridors 1&2. Now, CMRL has ventured into an extensive infrastructure
development in the city comprising of three more corridors of metro rail for a total length of 118.9 km being funded by several multi-national funding agencies including the JICA, ADB, AIIB & NDB.

Corridor 5 begins at Madhavaram Milk colony and connects through Koyambedu, Porur, Alandur and other residential/commercial development of the city to Shollinganallur for a total length of 47.0 km with 5 underground stations and 39 elevated stations.

Four TBMs, each named after distinct Tamil landscapes (Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, and Neithal), will be deployed for Corridor 5. TBM Kurinji, the first to be launched today (19-02-2025), will bore a 246-meter tunnel from Kolathur Ramp towards Kolathur Station (upline) and is expected to reach in June 2025. It will then be retrieved and relaunched from the south shaft to tunnel towards Srinivasa Nagar (1.06 kms).

The second TBM, Mullai, is expected to arrive by the end of March 2025 and will begin tunnelling adjacent to Villivakkam Railway Station towards Villivakkam Bus Terminus (603 meters). The remaining two TBMs will be launched based on site readiness.

The 7.8 km underground tunnel section with twin tunnel of 3.9 km each of Corridor 5, including five underground stations from Kolathur Ramp to Nathamuni Ramp are being executed through M/s.Tata Projects limited and have to mobilize a total of 4 TBMs for the works.

Additional Chief Secretary, Special Initiatives, Government of Tamil Nadu Dr. K. Gopal I.A.S., along with CMRL Director Thiru. T. Archunan, (Project), Thiru. Livingstone, CGM (PP&D), General Consultant Team Leader Tony Burchell and Thiru. Usman Sharief, Chief Resident Engineer, M/s Tata Projects and other officials and
staff of CMRL, GC and Tata Projects visited the site.

Issued By: Joint Director / Public Relations Officer
CMRL, Chennai – 600 035.