**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Railways reports sanctioning 29 rail surveys covering 2,501 km in Tamil Nadu over four years, including 6 new lines and 23 doubling projects. While the Government of India is committed to project execution, success hinges on the support of the Tamil Nadu government, primarily regarding land acquisition. Several projects are delayed due to land acquisition issues.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Project Sanctions and Scope:**
* 29 rail surveys sanctioned, encompassing 2,501 km.
* Includes surveys for 6 new lines and 23 doubling projects.
* **Recently Completed/Partially Completed Projects:**
* Lists 11 completed projects in Tamil Nadu with their respective costs in Crores.
* Includes gauge conversions and doubling projects, such as Dindigul-Palani-Pollachi and Chengalpattu-Villupuram.
* **Projects in Progress:**
* Lists 6 projects falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu.
* Includes new lines like Tindivanam-Nagari and Morappur-Dharmapuri.
* **Project Delays:**
* Several infrastructure projects are delayed due to land acquisition issues in Tamil Nadu.
* **Land Acquisition Status:**
* Total land required for projects in Tamil Nadu is 4,326 ha.
* 1,052 ha (24%) of land has been acquired, with 3,274 ha (76%) remaining.
* Lists major projects delayed due to land acquisition, specifying total land required, land acquired, and balance land to be acquired.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Government of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** The success of railway projects in Tamil Nadu depends significantly on the government's support, particularly in expediting land acquisition.
* **Action Required:** The government needs to expedite the land acquisition process to avoid further delays in ongoing and future railway projects.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Railways / Government of India**
* **Impact:** Project timelines and costs are affected by land acquisition delays, impacting overall railway infrastructure development in Tamil Nadu.
* **Action Required:** Continue to coordinate with the Tamil Nadu government to resolve land acquisition issues and ensure timely project completion.
**Stakeholder: Citizens of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** The completion of these projects will likely improve connectivity and transportation infrastructure in the region. Delays in project completion will negatively affect the areas that would have been positively impacted.
* **Action Required:** N/A
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu: The Indian state where 29 rail surveys are sanctioned, and where infrastructure projects are being executed with delays due to land acquisition.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology who provided the information.
Ministry of Railways: The central ministry responsible for the railway projects discussed in the document.
Ministry of Railways
29 Rail Surveys Covering 2,501 km Sanctioned in
Four Years Across Tamil Nadu Including 6 New
Lines and 23 Doubling Projects
Government of India is Geared Up to Execute Projects,
However Success Depends Upon the Support of Government
of Tamil Nadu: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Posted On: 13 FEB 2026 3:51PM by PIB Delhi
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) 2,00012 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 1,122
km)
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
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
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 2,501 km has been sanctioned falling fully/partly in the
State of Tamil Nadu.
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 haLand 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 Land Balance Land to be
required acquired acquired
(in ha) (in ha) (in ha)
1. Tindivanam - Tiruvannamalai new line 276 33 243
(71 km)
2. Attiputtu-Puttur new line (88 km) 189 0 189
3. Morappur-Dharmapuri new line (36 92 45 47
km)
4. Mannargudi-Pattukkottai new line (41 196 0 196
km)
5. Thanjavur-Pattukottai new line (52 152 0 152
km)
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.
Sanction of any railway project depends upon many parameters/factors which include the following:
· Anticipated traffic projections and remunerativeness of the proposed route
· First and last mile connectivity provided by the project
· Connection of missing links and providing additional route
· Augmentation of congested/saturated lines
· Demands raised by State Governments/Central Ministries/Public representatives
· Railway’s own operational requirements
· Socio-economic considerations
· Overall availability of funds
Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors which include the following:
· Land acquisition by State Government· Forest clearance
· Shifting of infringing utilities
· Statutory clearances from various authorities
· Geological and topographical conditions of area
· Law and order situation in the area of project site
· Number of working months in a year for particular project site etc.
All these factors affect the completion time and cost of the project/s.
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/ Manik Sharma
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