Chennai: New railway lines, doubling and multitracking works are among a series projects planned and under execution across Chennai’s suburban network and neighbouring districts, as Centre looks to ease congestion and improve connectivity on some of Tamil Nadu’s busiest rail corridors.The Beach–Chengalpet suburban section records a daily footfall of 10,21,110 passengers, while Beach–Arakkonam section handles around 5,10,080 passengers.Replying to a question from Lok Sabha MP R Sudha on the status of railway capacity enhancement work for Tamil Nadu, railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the ministry had sanctioned the 30-km Tambaram–Chengalpet fourth line project at an estimated cost of Rs757 crore. He said two other major projects around Chennai are also under execution. These include the 68-km Arakkonam–Chengalpet doubling project, estimated at Rs993 crore, and the 23-km Attipattu–Gummidipundi third and fourth line project, costing ₹365 crore.The projects are aimed at increasing line capacity across the western, northern and southern suburban corridors, reducing congestion, and allowing more passenger and freight trains to operate simultaneously.The ministry also said planning is under way for additional capacity expansion projects. DPR has been completed for the 90-km Gummidipundi–Gudur third and fourth line project. Surveys have also been sanctioned for Villupuram–Nagercoil third and fourth line, Villupuram–Thanjavur doubling, and Manamadurai–Rameswaram doubling projects. DPR for Thanjavur–Thiruvarur–Karaikal doubling project has also been completed.Vaishnaw, however, said the completion of a DPR or survey does not automatically lead to project approval. Such proposals must undergo consultations with state govts and obtain clearances from agencies, including NITI Aayog and Ministry of Finance, before they are sanctioned, he said. Land acquisition continues to be one of the key challenges delaying railway projects in Tamil Nadu, he said.
