Tata’s TBM Kurinji for Chennai Metro’s Line-5 Starts Tunneling
Tata Projects Ltd. (TPL) on Wednesday commissioned their first tunnel boring machine (TBM) Kurinji at Kolathur Ramp for 44.6 km Chennai Metro Line-5 which will connect Madhavaram and Sholinganallur via 45 stations.
TBM Kurinji (S120) is a Ø6.61m Terratec Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machine and the first of four machines to get deployed for constructing underground twin tunnels for the 116.1 km Chennai Metro Phase 2 project’s 5.8 km Package UG-06/RT-01 connecting Kolathur – Nathamuni.
For its first assignment, TBM Kurinji will excavate and build a 246m tunnel for the up-line from Kolathur Ramp to Kolathur Station. CMRL’s press release indicates they expect it arrive at Kolathur Station in June 2025 following which it will be retrieved and relaunched from the South Shaft to Srinivasa Nagar for a 1.06 km drive.
Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) had awarded Tata Projects with a Package UG-06/RT-01’s Rs. 1445,98 crore contract in September 2023 with a 3.8 year construction deadline.
Tata’s scope of work includes constructing twin tunnels and 5 underground stations at Kolathur Junction, Srinivasa Nagar, Villivakkam Suburban Station (Villivakkam), Villivakkam Bus Terminus and Nathamuni (Villivakkam MTH Road).
Tata plans to deploy 4 TBMs – Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham and Neithal – each named after distinct Tamil landscapes. CMRL expects the 2nd TBM (Mullai – Terratec S121) to arrive in the city in March 2025, and it’ll first be deployed to build a 603m tunnel from Villivakkam Railway Station towards Villivakkam Bus Terminus.
For more updates, check out the Chennai Metro section or my Home Page! Sign up for free instant email notifications on new posts over here. Like this post? Get early-access to updates and support the site over here.
– TMRG
1) Mumbai Metro L5 Power Supply & E&M financial bids opened & any idea who won it?
2) MMRDA updated website as per 31st January 2025 TBM-1 (Down Line) 92% Completed & TBM-2 (Up Line) 87% Completed.
3) any update on TBMs Delivery is Late for Bullet train, Thane Borivali tunnel, Goregaon Mulund Link Road, Versova – Dahisar Coastal Road and also for Orange Gate – Marine Drive Tunnel????
@Aryan the 2nd Point which you have mentioned pertains to which Metro Line?
7A. That is the only metro tunnel UC right now in mumbai
Cool! I look forward to Mumbai Metro Line 7A starting for commercial operations from the Calendar Year 2026. Thank you @Kartik. 🙂
1 – IRCON is L1. Just posted:
https://themetrorailguy.com/2025/02/21/ircon-wins-mumbai-metro-line-5s-electrification-em-contract-ca-239/
2. Cool, looking forward to tunneling completion!
3. No update on Bullet Train’s machines (1st is still stuck in China). Orange Gate’s TBM has passed FAT in Mumbai – no issues there. Rest machines – I’ll post as FAT is completed for each. Will be a mix of Herrenknecht & Terratec.
any idea when Kovilambakkam route will be opened?
Not before mid-2027 – and that’s on the optimistic side of things.
Issue is depot access. This timeframe can work only if CMRL utilizes Line-4’s depot to feed/service Line-5’s trains which have different contractual obligations/funding.
DPR submitted by CMRL to TN government for two corridors (Phase 2 extension) :
1. Airport metro station to Kilambakkam bus terminus – 15.46km , 13 stations.
2. Koyambedu metro station to Pattabiram Outer Ring Road – 21.76km , 19 stations.
TMRG both the up and down lines below the adyar river are completed!
TBM kaveri finished it on sept 2024 while TBM adyar did it on feb 2025 due to delays cuased bh hard rock