On the 01.06.2016 the Indian Union Cabinet approved the 9.05 km extension of Corridor-1 of the Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase-I from Washermanpet to Wimconagar (Lot UAA08). The 2.4 km stretch from Washermanpet to Korukkupet will be underground. Wimconagar is 0.5 km from Tiruvottiyur, where a connection to the Chennai Central - Gummidipoondi suburban section of the Southern Railway will be feasible.
The project will be implemented by the existing SPV of the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu having 50:50 equity stake in the company Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL). The project is scheduled to be completed by March 2018. In the total project cost of Rs. 3770 crore will be met by three parties. The Government of India's (Gol) share will be Rs. 713 crore, the Government of Tamilnadu's (GoTN) share will be Rs. 916 crore and the balance amount of Rs. 2141 crore will be borrowed in the form of a loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase-I is composed of 6 underground sections.
UAA01 – In Progress
This section includes tunnels from Washermenpet to Egmore and from May Day Park to Central with stations at Egmore, Chennai Central, May Day Park, High Court, Mannadi and Washermenpet.
The joint venture of Afcons-Transtonnelstroy completed tunneling in 2014 between Washermenpet and High Court.
Four tunnels are now left to be constructed between Egmore, Central and High Court stations.
On the 30.04.2016 the progress of the was 4455 m on the Washermenpet – Egmore section. Also TBM 1 has advanced 3558 m on the upline and TBM 2 has advanced 3352 m on the down line. Earlier in January this year TBM 3 broke through at Central station and completed line 1’s down line of 2080m between May Day Park shaft and Central station.
A TBM on the up-line tunnel was commissioned from Egmore towards Central station in December, and has excavated 98m. In March, a second TBM was commissioned for the down-line between Egmore and Central which has excavated 130m. Both the TBMs that are working from the High Court towards Central station have encountered hard rock and need frequent interventions to change their cutting discs.
UAA02 – In progress
This section includes tunnels from May Day Park to AG-DMS with stations at Government Estate, LIC, Thousand Lights and AG-DMS. At the end of May CMRL awarded to Afcons the contract to complete the tunneling and station works which were unfinished by the Gammon-Mosmetrostroy joint venture in May 2015. The Gammon-Mosmetrostroy joint venture had completed building 1835 m and 1700 m of two of the tunnels.
UAA03 – Complete
This section includes tunnels from AG-DMS to Saidapet with stations at Teynampet, Nadanam and Saidapet. The Gammon-Mosmetrostroy joint venture had unfinished tunneling work in May 2015 which was taken over by Afcons Infra who went on to complete the last breakthrough in September.
UAA04 – Complete
This section includes tunnels from Egmore to Shenoy Nagar with stations at Nehru Park, Kilpauk and Pachaiyappa’s College. Tunneling work by the L&T-SUCG joint venture has been completed and currently track work & systems installation work is being done.
UAA05 – Complete
This section includes tunnels from Shenoy Nagar to Thirumangalam with stations at Shenoy Nagar, Anna Nagar East, Anna Nagar Tower and Thirumangalam. Tunneling work by the Afcons-Transtonnelstroy joint venture has been completed and in October 2015. In April 2016, CMRL’s contractors began installing platform screen doors and have tested a metro train inside the tunnels for the first time.
UAA08 – In progress
The construction of this 2.4 km underground section from Washermenpet to Korrukupet with stations at Sir Theagaraya College and Korrukupet was assigned to Afcons a few days ago. Ground work can be expected to start in Q3 2016 and tunneling works in Q2 2017, with operations on the entire 9 km extension starting in 2021.
The entire 45.1 km Phase 1 (not including UAA08) could be operational in 2019/2020. Construction began in June 2009 and the first 10 km section covering seven stations from Koyambedu to Alandur began operations on the 29th June 2015.
On 21st May 2016 CMRL started test runs on the 5.1 km Alandur – Anna Salai Airport stretch. CMRL plans to start further test runs between Thirumangalam and Shenoy Nagar this month and later extend it to Nehru Park, a total distance of 8 km. For further information click here and in/40 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit http://pib.nic.in/newsite/pmreleases.aspx?mincode=61 and http://www.chennaimetrorail.gov.in/newsletter/CMRL%20l%20News%20Letter%20l%20April%202016.pdf. 24/16.
