• Source:JND
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Chennai Metro Update: Tunneling work is set to begin in Villivakkam from next week for Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail Project. The extension will feature three stations- Villivakkam Metro, Bus Terminus Metro, and MTH Road Metro and will be under the 118.9-km phase II project. 

It will also form a part of Corridor 5, which runs from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur, as reported by The Hindu. This 47-km stretch is the longest corridor under Phase II, with important stations at the following junctures:

  • Retteri

  • Kolathur

  • Villivakkam

  • Anna Nagar West

  • Thirumangalam

  • Koyambedu

  • Virugambakkam

  • Mugalivakkam

  • Ramapuram

  • Adambakkam

  • Madipakkam

  • Kovilambakkam

  • Medavakkam

  • Shollinganallur

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is set to deploy the tunnel boring machine 'Marutham' at Villivakkam Metro, where it will start digging a tunnel to Villivakkam Bus Terminus. “The TBM ‘Marutham’ was lowered some time ago. It has mined the diaphragm wall, or the station box, for 100 mm and is ready for the launch. The second TBM ‘Neithal’ will begin its drive by the end of November,” a CMRL official said.

The machines will drill into the earth for a distance of 603 m to create twin tunnels linking the two locations. CMRL officials predict that both machines are expected to complete their journeys by March or April 2026. 

“Between Villivakkam Metro and Villivakkam Bus Terminus, the machines must bore through hard clay and shale, a fine-grained sedimentary rock made of clay and silt, but we don’t expect much of a problem,” the CMRL official added.

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How Will This Metro Station Benefit The People?

- Corridor 5 (on which Villivakkam is located) is expected to cut down travel time between Madipakkam to Villivakkam significantly. Currently, the travel time on this route takes a minimum of an hour by road. 

- The stretch has only a small part underground (5.8 km) in comparison to the other two corridors, Madhavaram to SIPCOT (Corridor 3) and Poonamallee to Light House (Corridor 4).

- Commuters can also switch between the bus terminus, the suburban railway station and the two Metro stations after the construction of the entire corridor is done. 

- The Villivakkam Metro will be located 60 m from the Suburban Railway Station, which is expected to be connected by a subway. 

- Meanwhile, the Villivakkam Bus Terminus Metro will be situated within walking distance of the local bus stand.

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