Indian Railways Recently Completes Key Infrastructure Projects Spanning Over 1,700 km in Tamil Nadu to Strengthen Rail Connectivity
Posted On: 13 MAR 2026 7:43PM by PIB Delhi
Budget allocation in the recent years has increased significantly. Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu is as under:
|
Period |
Outlay |
|
2009-14 |
₹879 crore/year |
|
2025-26 |
₹ 6,626 crore (more than 7.5 times) |
Project sanctioned:-
As on 01.04.2025, 15 projects (09 new line, 03 gauge conversion and 03 doubling) of 1,700 km length, costing ₹22,808 Crore, falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu, are sanctioned. The summary is as under:-
|
Category |
No. of sanctioned projects |
Total Length (in km) |
Length Commissioned upto Mar’25 (in km) |
Expenditure upto Mar’ 25 (₹ in Cr.) |
|
New Line |
9 |
812 |
24 |
1,337 |
|
Gauge Conversion |
3 |
748 |
604 |
3,471 |
|
Doubling /Multitracking |
3 |
140 |
37 |
2,783 |
|
Total |
15 |
1,700 |
665 |
7,591 |
Zonal Railway wise details of Railway projects are made available in public domain on Indian Railway’s website.
Recently Completed Projects:-
Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly in Tamil Nadu are as under :
|
S.N. |
Project |
Cost (₹in Crores) |
|
1 |
Dindigul-Palani-Pollachi gauge conversion (121 km) |
610 |
|
2 |
Pollachi-Palghat gauge conversion (56 km) |
350 |
|
3 |
Pollachi-Podhanur gauge conversion (40 km) |
400 |
|
4 |
Quilon-Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur gauge conversion (357 km) |
1,122 |
|
5 |
Mayiladuturai-Thiruvarur-Karaikkudi gauge conversion (187 km) |
1,338 |
|
6 |
Madurai-Bodiyakannur gauge conversion (90 km) |
593 |
|
7 |
Chengalpattu-Villupuram doubling (102 km) |
670 |
|
8 |
Tiruvallur-Arakkonam 4th line (27 km) |
83 |
|
9 |
Chennai Central-Basin Bridge doubling (2 km) |
31 |
|
|
10 |
Thanjavur-Ponmalai doubling (48 km) |
370 |
|
|
11 |
Villupuram-Dindigul doubling (273 km) |
2,000 |
|
|
12 |
Chennai Beach-Korukkupet 3rd line (5 km) |
168 |
|
|
13 |
Chennai Beach-Attipattu 4th line (22 km) |
293 |
|
|
14 |
Omalur-Metturdam Patch doubling (29 km) |
327 |
|
|
15 |
Chengalpattu-Villupuram and Tambaram-Chengalpattu-3rd line (133 km) |
1,122 |
|
|
16 |
Salem-Magnesite Junction-Omalur doubling (11 km) |
115 |
|
|
17 |
Madurai- Maniyachi-Tuticorin doubling (160 km) |
1,891 |
|
|
18 |
Maniyachi-Nagercoil doubling (102 km) |
1,752 |
|
|
19 |
Chennai Beach-Chennai Egmore doubling (4 km) |
272 |
|
|
20 |
Karaikal-Peralam new line (23 km) |
373 |
|
|
21 |
Northern End Port connectivity to Karaikal Port (1 km) |
18 |
|
Ongoing Projects:-
Some of the projects falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu which have been taken up are as under:
|
S.N |
Project |
Cost (₹ in Crores) |
|
1 |
Tindivanam-Nagari new line (184 km) |
3,631 |
|
2 |
Morappur-Dharmapuri new line (36 km) |
359 |
|
3 |
Nagapattinam-Tiruturaipundi new line (43 km) |
742 |
|
4 |
Trivandrum-Kanyakumari doubling (87 km) |
3,785 |
|
5 |
Arakkonam yard 3rd & 4th line (6 km) |
98 |
|
6 |
Perambur – Ambattur 5th & 6th lines (6 Km) |
178 |
|
7 |
Irugur-Podanur doubling (11 Km) |
277 |
|
8 |
Tambaram-Chengalpattu 4th Line (30 km) |
757 |
|
9 |
Attipattu-Gummidipundi 3rd& 4th line (23 km) |
375 |
|
10 |
Tirupati-Pakala-Katpadi doubling (105 km) |
1332 |
|
11 |
Tindivanam-Gingee-Tiruvannamalai New Line (71 Km) |
1400 |
|
12 |
Atipattu – Puttur New Line (88 Km) |
1700 |
|
13 |
Chennai – Cuddulore via Mahabalipuram New Line (179 Km) |
2670 |
Execution of important infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu are held up due to delay in land acquisition. Status of land acquisition in Tamil Nadu is as under:
|
Total Land required for Projects in Tamil Nadu |
4,326 ha |
|
Land Acquired |
1,052 ha (24%) |
|
Balance Land to be acquired |
3,274 ha (76%) |
Support of the Government of Tamil Nadu is needed to expedite the land acquisition.
Details of some major projects which are delayed due to land acquisition are as under:-
|
SN |
Name of the project |
Total land required (in ha) |
Land acquired (in ha) |
Balance Land to be acquired (in ha) |
|
1. |
Tindivanam – Tiruvannamalai new line (71 km) |
276 |
33 |
243 |
|
2. |
Attiputtu-Puttur new line (88 km) |
189 |
0 |
189 |
|
3. |
Morappur-Dharmapuri new line (36 km) |
92 |
45 |
47 |
|
4. |
Mannargudi-Pattukkottai new line (41 km) |
196 |
0 |
196 |
|
5. |
Thanjavur-Pattukottai new line (52 km) |
152 |
0 |
152 |
Further, Rameshwaram – Dhanushkodi new line (18 km) was sanctioned at a cost of ₹734 Cr. The Foundation Stone of the project was laid on 01.03.2019. However, the project could not be started because the land acquisition has not been undertaken by the State Govt. of Tamil Nadu.
Government of India is geared up to execute projects, however success depends upon the support of Government of Tamil Nadu.
In last three years i.e. 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and current financial year 2025-26, 29 surveys (06 new line and 23 doubling) covering a total length of 2,478 km has been sanctioned falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu.
Rameswaram is already connected to Kanniyakumari with existing railway network via Virudhanagar, Tirunelveli and Nagercoil. The Kulasekharapatnam Light Railway (private narrow gauge railway), in Tisayanvilai-Kulasekharapatnam-Tiruchendur (43 km) section, had been operational till 1940 on private land. Thereafter, it was closed.
Railway Electrification:
Electrification of railway network on Indian Railways has been taken up in mission mode. So far, about 99.4% of Broad Gauge (BG) network has been electrified. The electrification in remaining network has been taken up. Electrification carried out during 2014-25 and before 2014 is as under:-
|
Period |
Route Kilometer |
|
Before 2014 (about 60 years) |
21,801 |
|
2014-25 |
46,900 |
In Tamil Nadu, 97% of BG network has been electrified and electrification in remaining network has been taken up.
Trains Stoppage:
Proposals/ requests/ suggestions/ representations, both formal and informal inter alia for introduction/provision of stoppage of trains are received from Members of Parliament, elected representatives, organizations/rail users etc. at various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Divisional Office etc. As receipt of such proposals/ requests/suggestions is a continuous and dynamic process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained. However, these are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time, which is an on-going process.
Further, as the Railway network straddles across State/district boundaries, trains are operated, as per network requirement, across such boundaries.
However, to facilitate the passengers of Tamil Nadu, during the period 01.04.2021 to 28.02.2026, 295 stoppages have been provided and following 52 new train services (including 16 Vande Bharat train services and 12 Amrit Bharat) have been introduced on orignating/terminating basis:
|
Sl. |
Train No. and Name |
|
1 |
20609/20610 Tiruchchirappalli – New Jalpaiguri Amrit Bharat Express |
|
2 |
16121/16122 Tambaram – Trivandrum central Amrit Bharat Express |
|
3 |
16329/16330 Nagercoil – Mangaluru Junction Amrit Bharat Express |
|
4 |
20603/20604 Nagercoil – New jalpaiguri Amrit Bharat Express |
|
5 |
16107/16108 Tambaram – Santragachi Amrit Bharat Express |
|
6 |
16601/16602 Erode – Jogbani Amrit Bharat Express |
|
7 |
20671/20672 Madurai – Bangalore Cantt. Vande Bharat Express |
|
8 |
20627/20628 Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express |
|
9 |
20663/20664 Mysuru – MGR Chennai Central Vande Bharat Express |
|
10 |
20641/20642 Bengaluru Cantt. – Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express |
|
11 |
20665/20666 Chennai Egmore – Triunelenveli Vande Bharat Express |
|
12 |
20677/20678 MGR Chennai Central – Vijayawada Vande Bharat Express |
|
13 |
20643/20644 MGR Chennai Central Chennai – Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express |
|
14 |
20607/20608 MGR Chennai Central – Mysuru Vande Bharat Express |
|
15 |
66621/66622 Salem – Erode MEMU |
|
16 |
20625/20626 MGR Chennai Central – Bhagat Ki Kothi Express |
|
17 |
16103/16104 Tambaram – Rameswaram Express |
|
18 |
66563/66564 Yesvantpur- Hosur MEMU |
|
19 |
16765/16766 Mettupalaiyam – Tuticorin Express |
|
20 |
16367/16368 Kanniyakumari – Banaras Kashi Tamil Sangamam Express |
|
21 |
56113/56114 (Old no. 06421/06422) Coimbatore – Pollachi Passenger |
|
22 |
16361/16362 Ernakulam – Velankanni Express |
|
23 |
20683/20684 Tambaram – Sengottai Express |
|
24 |
76627/76628 Agastiampalli – Tiruturaipundi DEMU |
|
25 |
76629/76630 Agastiampalli – Tiruturaipundi DEMU |
|
26 |
56701/56702 (Old no. 06701/06702) Madurai – Teni Passenger |
Besides, provision of stoppages of train services and introduction of new train services which depends on the traffic justification, operational feasibility, competing demands, etc., are on-going processes on Indian Railways.
Amrit Bharat Stations:
So far, 1,337 stations have been identified for development under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Out of these, 77 stations are located in Tamil Nadu.
The name of stations identified under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in Tamil Nadu are as following:
|
State |
No. of Stations |
Name of Stations |
|
Tamil Nadu |
77 |
Ambasamudram, Ambattur, Arakkonam Jn, Ariyalur, Avadi, Bommidi, Chengalpattu Jn, Chennai Beach, Chennai Egmore, Chennai Park, Chidambaram, Chinna Salem, Chrompet, Coimbatore Jn, Coimbatore North, Coonoor, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Erode Jn., Guduvancheri, Guindy, Gummidipundi, Hosur, Jolarpettai Jn, Kanniyakumari Terminus, Karaikkudi Jn, Karur Jn, Katpadi Jn, Kovilpatti, Kulitturai, Kumbakonam, Lalgudi, Madurai Jn, Mambalam, Manaparai, Mannargudi, Mayiladuturai Jn, Mettupalayam, Morappur, Nagercoil Jn, Namakkal, Palani, Paramakkudi, Perambur, Podanur Jn., Pollachi Jn, Polur, Pudukkottai, Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central, Rajapalayam, Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram, Salem, Samalpatti, Sholavandan, Srirangam, Srivilliputtur, St.Thomas Mount, Tambaram, Tenkasi, Thanjavur Jn, Thiruvarur Jn., Tiruchendur, Tirunelveli Jn, Tirupadripulyur, Tirupattur, Tiruppur, Tirusulam, Tiruttani, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tuticorin, Udagamandalam, Vellore Cantt., Villupuram Jn., Virudhunagar, Vriddhachalam Jn. |
Completed stations:
Development works at railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in Tamil Nadu have been taken up at a good pace. Details of stations completed in Tamil Nadu are as under:
|
State |
No. of stations |
Name of stations |
|
Tamil Nadu |
20 |
Bommidi, Chennai Park, Chidambaram, Chinna Salem, Karaikkudi Jn, Kulitturai, Mambalam, Manaparai, Mannargudi, Morappur, Pollachi Jn, Polur, Samalpatti, Sholavandan, Srirangam, Srivilliputtur, St. Thomas Mount, Thiruvarur Jn., Tiruvannamalai, Vriddhachalam Jn. |
The activities for development at other stations have also been taken up at good pace and progress of some of the above stations is as given below:
-
Palani station: The works of improvement of station building, platform shelter, waiting hall, toilet, circulating area, parking, entry/exit arch, lift at existing Foot Over Bridge, coach indication board and train indication board have been completed. The works of Divyangjan facilities and 6 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.
-
Virudhunagar Junction station: The works of circulating area, parking, entry/exit arch, Divyangjan facilities, coach indication board and train indication board have been completed. The works of improvement of station building and 6 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.
-
Karur Junction station: The works of improvement of station building, main entrance arch, AC waiting hall, toilet at platform no. 1, 2/3 & 4/5, circulating area and parking have been completed. The works of lift, escalator and 12 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.
-
Thanjavur Junction station: The works of portico, improvement of concourse, platform shelter, improvement of booking office, circulating area, exit arch and signages have been completed. The works of parking, lift, escalator, coach indication board and train indication board have been taken up.
-
Villupuram Junction station: The works of new arrival building, platform shelter, improvement of platform surface, booking counter, parcel office, improvement of parking and signages have been completed. The works of improvement of concourse, circulating area, parking, entrance arch, coach indication board, train indication board, escalator and 6 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.
Development / Upgradation / Modernization of stations including Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is generally funded under Plan Head-53 ‘Customer Amenities’. The details of allocation and expenditure under Plan Head-53 are maintained Zonal Railway-wise and not work-wise or station-wise or state-wise. Tamil Nadu is covered under the jurisdiction of two railway zones, namely, Southern Railway and South Western Railway. For these zones, an allocation of ₹ 4,632 crore has been made for the last two years and the current year (up to January, 2026), out of which an expenditure of ₹ 4,439 crore has been incurred so far.
This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a reply to questions in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj
(Release ID: 2239871)
