Testing rubberised geo-materials for Chennai's elevated corridor

Tests are being conducted on rubberised geo materials for the construction of a 3.2 km elevated corridor in Chennai. This corridor will connect Saidapet to Teynampet and will cost ₹621 crore. Workers are filling geo-grids and geo-cells with M-sand to strengthen the soil over the Metrorail tunnel. E. V. Velu, the Minister for Highways, inspected the project and urged the contractor to work faster. Soil strengthening methods used for the project have been approved by IIT Bombay. This is the first time a structure will be built over an underground tunnel in this area. The elevated corridor will have a width of 14 meters and will be constructed in three main segments. Part of the corridor will have traditional pile foundations, while another section will use 69 micropiles. In specific areas, such as the Teynampet and Nandanam Metro stations, steel portal frames will replace heavier concrete columns. Chief Minister M. K. Stalin laid the foundation for the project in January 2024. Using steel will reduce the weight of the structure by two-thirds compared to concrete, despite the cost being slightly higher. Once finished, the corridor will help motorists by allowing them to cross seven busy traffic junctions, improving travel for around 237,000 drivers daily. Senior officials from the Highways Department attended the site inspection to monitor progress on this key construction project.