Man, machine gear up for Metro tunnelling work

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The last leg of preliminary work required to start the dredging of the metro tunnels has touched the finishing stage.

According to senior officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited, the base-slab construction work at Nehru Park station where the first tunnelling is expected to start is almost over.

After the base-slab construction, finishing touches would be given before landing the TBMs (tunnel boring machines) on them, officials told Deccan Chronicle. Tunnel boring machines would land by June-end or July.

The TBM shafts at Nehru Park, May Day Park, Shenoy Nagar and Washermanpet are nearing completion, officials added. As of now, seven of the total 11 TBMs have arrived from China.

Trained manpower would be resourced from China. Workers trained in supporting TBM operations will also arrive soon, officials said attributing import of manpower to lack of trained manpower to operate the state-of-art TMBs in India.

Excavation of launching shafts for TMBs has been completed at Nehru Park and the same is in progress at Washermanpet, May Day Park, Shenoy Nagar and Saidapet Ramp.

In Saidapet, diaphragm wall construction has been completed and excavation has commenced for the TBM shaft.

Officials exude confidence that the works would end well within the deadline as contractors are vying with each other to demonstrate better work progress.

Even the foundation work opposite OTA gate where metro rail will go underground for a 500metre stretch alongside the airport runway before climbing up a ramp to reach the front of the airport has been expedited.