<p>Metros are becoming a viable option for transportation especially in crowded urban areas. When underground tunnels are constructed, the adjacent building undergoes settlement due to stress redistribution around the excavated portion. It is essential to ensure that these deformations are within the design limits. To mitigate the effect of tunnelling-induced deformations on adjacent buildings, various methods such as underpinning, grouting, barrier walls in the form of contiguous piles or diaphragm walls, etc. are introduced prior to, or during tunnelling. In case, when the building to be protected is of historical importance or is in the centrally protected monuments category, barrier walls have been found to be a viable option. This study presents a review of mitigation methods to minimize tunnelling-induced settlements with particular focus on barrier-type methods such as row of piles and diaphragm walls. The comprehensive review includes experimental (1g and centrifuge model), analytical and numerical studies (two-dimensional and three-dimensional). Various aspects of tunnel-barrier wall interactions, such as the pile response to tunnelling, pile deflection, load transfer in piles adjacent to the tunnel and the effect on the settlement trough due to tunnelling adjacent to barrier walls are discussed in detail. Thus, the study helps in providing better understanding of the factors influencing the design of such barrier walls and the tunnel–barrier wall interactions, as well as, highlight the knowledge gaps that exist in this area of research.</p>