**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the significant progress of Indian Railways in Tamil Nadu, highlighting the completion of over 1,700 km of infrastructure projects, the introduction of new train services, and the redevelopment of stations. The Union Railway Minister has called for support from the Government of Tamil Nadu to expedite land acquisition for pending projects. Key deadlines and dates are not explicitly stated beyond a projected outlay for 2025-26.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Infrastructure Projects and Connectivity Enhancement**
* Indian Railways has completed infrastructure projects spanning over 1,700 km in Tamil Nadu to strengthen rail connectivity.
* As of April 1, 2025, 15 sanctioned projects (9 new lines, 3 gauge conversions, 3 doublings) totaling 1,700 km, costing ₹22,808 crore, are in progress or have been sanctioned.
* Significant increases in budget allocation for infrastructure and safety works in Tamil Nadu are noted, with an outlay of ₹879 crore/year for 2009-14 and ₹6,626 crore for 2025-26.
**Passenger Convenience and New Services**
* 295 train stoppages have been provided and 52 new train services have been introduced in Tamil Nadu in the last five years.
* This includes the introduction of 16 Vande Bharat and 12 Amrit Bharat train services.
**Station Redevelopment**
* Redevelopment of 20 stations, including Chidambaram, Karaikkudi Jn., Pollachi Jn., Srirangam, and Tiruvannamalai, has been completed as part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
* A total of 77 stations in Tamil Nadu were identified for development under this scheme.
* Development works are progressing well, with specific examples of completed and ongoing works at Palani, Virudhunagar Junction, Karur Junction, Thanjavur Junction, and Villupuram Junction stations.
**Railway Electrification**
* About 99.4% of the Broad Gauge (BG) network on Indian Railways has been electrified, with ongoing electrification in the remaining network.
* In Tamil Nadu, 97% of the BG network is electrified.
**Land Acquisition for Projects**
* Execution of important infrastructure projects in Tamil Nadu is being held up due to delays in land acquisition.
* A total of 4,326 hectares of land is required, with 1,052 hectares (24%) acquired and 3,274 hectares (76%) remaining to be acquired.
* Specific projects like Tindivanam-Tiruvannamalai new line, Attiputtu-Puttur new line, Morappur-Dharmapuri new line, Mannargudi-Pattukkottai new line, and Thanjavur-Pattukottai new line are delayed due to land acquisition issues.
* The Rameshwaram-Dhanushkodi new line project, sanctioned in March 2019, could not commence due to lack of land acquisition by the State Government.
**Impact Analysis**
**Key Stakeholders**
* **Passengers of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Improved rail connectivity, increased train services, enhanced passenger convenience through new train introductions (Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat), and upgraded station facilities under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
* **Action Required:** None explicitly stated for passengers, but they benefit from the completed and ongoing projects.
* **Government of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Directly involved in land acquisition processes, which are critical for the timely execution of sanctioned railway projects. Delays in land acquisition are hindering project completion.
* **Action Required:** Expedite the land acquisition process to facilitate the completion of pending railway projects.
* **Indian Railways**
* **Impact:** Faces project delays and potential cost overruns due to slow land acquisition. Significant investment has been made in infrastructure, train services, and station development in Tamil Nadu.
* **Action Required:** Continue to drive infrastructure development, monitor project progress, and collaborate with the State Government to overcome land acquisition hurdles.
* **Elected Representatives and Stakeholders**
* **Impact:** Their proposals and suggestions for train stoppages and new services are being considered and acted upon as feasible.
* **Action Required:** Continue to submit proposals and engage with the railway authorities for necessary improvements.
Key Entities Referenced
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: A scheme for the redevelopment and modernization of railway stations.
Indian Railways: The national railway system of India, responsible for infrastructure projects and train services.
Ministry of Railways: The government ministry overseeing railway development and policy in India.
Government of Tamil Nadu: The state government whose support is crucial for land acquisition and project completion.
Vande Bharat: A type of semi-high-speed train service introduced in India.
Ministry of Railways
Indian Railways Recently Completes Key
Infrastructure Projects Spanning Over 1,700 km
in Tamil Nadu to Strengthen Rail Connectivity
295 Train Stoppages Provided and 52 New Services Including
16 Vande Bharat and 12 Amrit Bharat Introduced in Tamil
Nadu in the Last 5 Years to Enhance Passenger Convenience
Redevelopment of 20 Stations Including Chidambaram,
Karaikkudi Jn., Pollachi Jn., Srirangam and Tiruvannamalai
Completed Out of 77 Identified Under Amrit Bharat Station
Scheme in Tamil Nadu
Support of the Government of Tamil Nadu is Needed to
Expedite the Land Acquisition & Complete the Pending
Projects: Union Railway Minister
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 Total Length Commissioned Expenditure
sanctioned Length upto
upto Mar’
projects (in km) Mar’25 (in km) 25
(₹ in Cr.)
New Line 9 812 24 1,337
Gauge Conversion 3 748 604 3,471
Doubling 3 140 37 2,783
/Multitracking
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) 37011 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) 7579 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 Land Balance Land
required acquired to
(in ha) (in ha) be acquired
(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 km) 92 45 47
4. Mannargudi-Pattukkottai new line (41 196 0 196
km)
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 Express6 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 PassengerBesides, 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 Name of Stations
StationsTamil 77 Ambasamudram, Ambattur, Arakkonam Jn, Ariyalur, Avadi, Bommidi,
Nadu 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 Name of stations
stations
Tamil 20 Bommidi, Chennai Park, Chidambaram, Chinna Salem, Karaikkudi Jn,
Nadu
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) Visitor Counter : 258
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