Executive Summary:
This document is the Minister of Railways' response to questions regarding Mission Raftaar in Tamil Nadu and the Southern Railway zone. It details the mission's objectives, progress in upgrading railway infrastructure, and challenges faced, particularly regarding land acquisition, which requires the support of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The document highlights projects sanctioned as of April 1, 2025, and budget allocations for Tamil Nadu.
Key Points / Main Content:
Mission Raftaar:
Announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17 to increase the average speed of freight and superfast mail/express trains.
Achieving this mission involves continuous infrastructure upgrades, including tracks, signaling systems, OHE, high-powered locomotives, and modern coaches.
Medium- and long-term plans include constructing additional lines, bypasses, rail flyovers, powering of trains, replacing conventional trains with MEMUs, timetable changes, and upgrading traction systems.
Track Upgradation:
Significant upgrades have occurred over the last 10 years, including using 60 kg rails, wider base concrete sleepers, thick web switches, longer rail panels, H Beam sleepers, and modern maintenance machines.
Track speed potential has increased from 2014 to 2025.
Upgradation of speed upto 110kmph/130kmph for Chennai-Madurai, Chennai-Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli-Rameswaram section.
Tamil Nadu Railway Projects:
Projects in Tamil Nadu are covered by Southern Railway (SR), South Central Railway (SCR), and South Western Railway (SWR) zones.
As of 01.04.2025, 15 projects (9 New Line, 3 Gauge Conversion, and 3 Doubling) totaling 1,700 Km and costing ₹22,808 Crore are sanctioned, with 665 Km commissioned and ₹7,591 Crore spent up to March 2025.
Infrastructure projects and safety works in Tamil Nadu have seen increased budget allocation, with ₹6626 crore allocated for 2025-26, more than 7.5 times the ₹879 crore/year allocated during 2009-14.
Land Acquisition Issues:
Execution of projects in Tamil Nadu is delayed due to land acquisition challenges.
Out of 4,315 Ha required, only 1038 Ha (24%) has been acquired, leaving a balance of 3277 Ha (76%).
Projects like Tindivanam-Tiruvannamalai, Attiputtu-Puttur, Morappur-Dharmapuri, Mannargudi-Pattukottai, and Thanjavur-Pattukottai are significantly delayed due to land acquisition issues.
The success of these projects is dependent on the support of the Government of Tamil Nadu in expediting land acquisition, forest clearances, and shifting of utilities.
Impact Analysis:
Indian Railways:
Impact: Responsible for implementing Mission Raftaar and upgrading railway infrastructure.
Action Required: Continue infrastructure improvements, track upgrades, and project execution, while also coordinating with the State Government for land acquisition and other clearances.
Government of Tamil Nadu:
Impact: Critical stakeholder due to the need for land acquisition and clearances for railway projects.
Action Required: Provide active support in expediting land acquisition, forest clearances, and shifting of infringing utilities to facilitate timely project completion.
Passengers and Freight Carriers:
Impact: Will benefit from increased train speeds and improved connectivity upon successful implementation of Mission Raftaar and related projects.
Action Required: No direct action required, but will experience improved services as projects progress.
Key Entities Referenced
Mission Raftaar: An initiative announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17 to increase the average speed of freight and superfast mail/express trains.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India, focus of railway development projects and allocation under Mission Raftaar.
Southern Railway zone: One of the railway zones in India, specifically mentioned in relation to Mission Raftaar and projects in Tamil Nadu.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Chennai-Madurai: A key congested route in Tamil Nadu, considered for extension of Mission Raftaar.
Chennai-Coimbatore: A key congested route in Tamil Nadu, considered for extension of Mission Raftaar.
Tiruchirappalli-Rameswaram: A key congested route in Tamil Nadu, considered for extension of Mission Raftaar.
Indian Railways: The national railway system of India, responsible for implementing railway projects and initiatives like Mission Raftaar.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2811
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025
MISSION RAFTAAR FOR TAMIL NADU AND SOUTHERN RAILWAY ZONE
2811. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of routes selected under the mission Raftaar across the
country particularly in Tamil Nadu and the Southern Railway zone; State and
zone-wise;
(b) whether Tamil Nadu has received proportionate allocation and focus
under the said Mission as compared to Northern and Western zones, if so, the
details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons for this regional imbalance; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to extend the said Mission to key
congested routes in Tamil Nadu such as Chennai-Madurai, Chennai-
Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli-Rameswaram and if so, the details thereof
including the timeline for its implementation?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d) Mission Raftaar was announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17 with
the target of increasing the average speed of freight and superfast
mail/express trains. Speeding up of trains is a constant endeavor and a
continuous process which is dependent upon upgradation of tracks, signaling
system, OHE, high powered locos, modern coaches etc.The medium-term and long-term plans to achieve the Mission include
infrastructure improvement i.e. construction of 3rd line/4th line, providing
bypasses, rail flyovers, right-powering of trains, replacement of conventional
loco hauled trains by MEMUs, time-tabling changes, modification of 1x25 KV
traction system to 2x25 KV traction system, etc.
Upgradation and improvement of railway tracks on Indian Railways to
increase the speed potential have been carried out in a big way during last
10 years. The measures for track upgradation include use of 60 kg rails,
wider base concrete sleepers, thick web switches, longer rail panels, H
Beam sleepers, modern track renewal and maintenance machines, etc.
As a result of the above measures, there has been a significant increase in
the speed potential of the tracks. The details of speed potential of railway
tracks during 2014 vis-à-vis 2025 are as under:
Sectional Speed 2014 2025
(kmph)
Track Km % Track Km %
< 110 47,897 60.4 22,862 21.6
110-130 26,409 33.3 59,800 56.6
130 & above 5,036 6.3 23,010 21.8
Total 79,342 100 1,05,672 100
The above includes upgradation of speed upto 110kmph/130kmph for
following section:
(i) Chennai-Madurai
(ii) Chennai-Coimbatore
(iii) Tiruchirappalli-RameswaramRailway projects in Tamil Nadu are covered by Southern Railway (SR), South
Central Railway (SCR) and South Western Railway (SWR) zone of Indian
Railways. Zonal Railway wise details of Railway projects are made available
in public domain of Indian Railway’s website.
To improve the connectivity in Tamil Nadu, as on 01.04.2025, 15 projects (09
New Line, 03 Gauge Conversion and 03 doubling) of total length 1,700 Km,
costing ₹22,808 Crore, falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu, are
sanctioned, out of which 665 Km length has been commissioned and an
expenditure of ₹7,591 Crore has been incurred upto March’ 2025. The
summary is as under:-
No. of Total Length Expenditure
Plan Head Projects Length Commissioned upto March
(in Km) (in Km) 2024 (₹ in Cr.)
New Line 09 812 24 1,337
Gauge 03 748 604 3471
Conversion
Doubling/ 03 140 37 2783
Multi tracking
Total 15 1,700 665 7,591
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 ₹6626 crore (more than 7.5 times)
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 4,315 Ha
Land Acquired 1038 Ha (24%)
Balance Land to be acquired 3277 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:-
Total Land Balance
SN Name of the project land acquired Land to be
required (in Ha) acquired
(in Ha) (in Ha)
1. Tindivanam-Tiruvannamalai 273 33 240
new line (71 km)
2. Attiputtu-Puttur 189 0 189
New Line (88 km)
3. Morappur-Dharmapuri (36 km) 93 42 51
4. Mannargudi-Pattukottai(41 km) 196 0 196
5. Thanjavur-Pattukottai (52 km) 152 0 152
Government of India is geared up to execute projects, however success
depends upon the support of Government of Tamil Nadu.
Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors like quick land
acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials of forest
department, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various
authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order
situation in the area of project/s 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.
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