C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Chennai
Metro Rail would commence its underground operations in the five
kilometre stretch between Koyambedu and Shenoy Nagar by the end of 2015
and the entire stretch would be completed by the end of 2016.
Chennai
Metro Rail general manager (underground construction) and Chief general
manager Somasundaram told reporters, who had assembled to tour the
underground stretch between Shenoy Nagar and Anna Nagar Tower station,
that the underground stretch operations would be done phase wise. In the
first phase we will commence operations in the 5km stretch by 2015 end,
they said.
Currently,
Chennai Metro Rail has completed the 1.5 km stretch between Shenoy
Nagar and Anna Nagar and the experience travelling 20 metres below
Chennai in a German locomotive was a marvel.
Empowered
with the best technology from across the world, including France, Hong
Kong, Japan and India, and the tireless efforts of 1,500 Indian workers
the first phase of the five kilometre stretch is progressing smoothly.
“We
will be starting the work from Anna Tower to Tirumangalam in the next
two months. The two tunnel boring machines which have finished the work
till Anna Towers will be moved to start working towards Tirumangalam,”
said V K Singh.
He
said that after VeeCare Hospital in Tirumangalam, the tunnel will end
and a ramp will be built connecting the elevated stretch.
Interestingly,
nearly 40 per cent work in the underground stretch, including the
stations has been completed, says Ron Michael, deputy project director
for Embeye (General Consultants).
The underground stretch has lot of challenges for metro rail despite
having the best of technical expertise. Ron says the challenge is the
mixed terrain. At times the soil is soft and then rocky. Surprisingly,
Chennai Metro Rail had a deadline of six months to drill the stretch
between Nehru Park and Chennai Egmore. But the terrain was rocky and the
tunnel boring machine took nearly 18 months to drill the 900 stretch.
“The problem was we have to replace the cutters every now and then,”
said Somasundaram.
Singh said Chennai Metro Rail would restore the Thiru Vi Ka Park and it would be more beautiful than it was earlier
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