Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has commenced tunneling operations on the Royapettah-R.K. Salai stretch as part of its expansive Phase II project. The tunnel boring machine (TBM) ‘Bhavani’ will cover 910 meters to reach R.K. Salai in approximately seven months, with three more TBMs to follow.
This project includes constructing an underground station at Royapettah, costing ₹250 crore, and is part of Corridor 3, spanning important locations like Madhavaram and Adyar. The comprehensive Phase II network, incorporating both underground and elevated tracks, is set to be fully operational in four years, significantly enhancing Chennai’s urban mobility infrastructure.