Chennai Metro Marks Milestone with U-Girder Installation at Vadapalani

Chennai’s metro expansion has reached a striking milestone at Vadapalani, where engineers managed one of the most complex tasks in the project so far. Giant U-shaped concrete girders, designed to carry Corridor 4, have been installed across Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, directly above the operational Phase 1 line.

Anyone familiar with Vadapalani knows the challenge. The 100 feet road is among the busiest in the city, with traffic rarely easing even late into the night. Beneath it, trains from the first phase of the metro continue to run, leaving no room for traditional crane-based installation. Faced with this, Chennai Metro Rail engineers turned to a launching girder system, a sophisticated method that allowed precise placement across a 45 metre span while keeping road and rail operations undisturbed.

The project’s complexity did not end there. To support the girders, specialists designed and built a pier cap of unusual proportions. Standing 23 metres high, 10.46 metres wide and 3.5 metres deep, the structure required 470 cubic metres of concrete and weighs around 1200 tonnes. Positioned on Arcot Road, it now anchors the viaduct and highlights the scale of construction expertise involved.

Vadapalani station will also be notable for its three tier design. Within a limited footprint, it integrates commercial areas, concourse levels and platforms, making maximum use of space in a dense neighbourhood. This combination of utility and design marks a shift in how the metro is being adapted to Chennai’s urban environment.

Corridor 4 is one of the most ambitious undertakings of Phase II. Stretching 26.1 kilometres from Marina Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass, it is expected to transform connectivity across the city. Trial operations are already underway between Poonamallee and Porur, while work at Vadapalani reflects the determination to keep progress steady in critical segments.

Once fully operational, this corridor will not only cut travel times but also reduce traffic congestion, link distant localities and contribute to sustainable urban growth. The success at Vadapalani is more than an engineering achievement. It is a symbol of Chennai’s evolving infrastructure and its readiness to meet the needs of a growing city.