**Executive Summary**
The document is a response to a question in Lok Sabha regarding pending railway projects in Tamil Nadu, to be answered on 17.12.2025. It outlines the details of sanctioned projects, costs, funds released, proposed timelines, and actions taken by the Railways in response to proposals from public representatives. It notes delays in land acquisition impede execution and Government of Tamil Nadu support is needed.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Budget Allocation:**
* Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works has significantly increased.
* The outlay for 2025-26 is ₹6,626 crore, which is more than 7.5 times the ₹879 crore/year allocated during 2009-14.
* **Sanctioned Projects:**
* As of 01.04.2025, 15 projects (9 new line, 3 gauge conversion, and 3 doubling) totaling 1,700 km in length and costing ₹22,808 crore are sanctioned.
* These projects are falling fully or partly in the State of Tamil Nadu.
* **Expenditure Summary:**
* Total expenditure up to March 2025 on these projects is ₹7,591 crore.
* Expenditure breakdown by project type: New Line (₹1,337 Cr), Gauge Conversion (₹3,471 Cr), Doubling/Multitracking (₹2,783 Cr).
* **Recently Completed Projects:**
* Several gauge conversion projects have recently been completed, including Dindigal-Palani-Pollachi (121 km), Pollachi-Palghat (56 km), Pollachi-Podhanur (40 km), and Quilon-Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur (357 km).
* **Projects Taken Up:**
* Several new line and doubling projects have been taken up, including Tindivanam-Nagari new line (184 km), Morappur-Dharmapuri new line (36 km), Nagapattinam-Tiruturaipundi new line (43 km), and Trivandrum-Kanyakumari doubling (87 km).
* **Land Acquisition Delays:**
* Execution of important infrastructure projects is being held up due to delays in land acquisition.
* As of the report, 3,274 hectares (76%) of the required land is yet to be acquired.
* Details of major projects delayed due to land acquisition are listed with their total land requirement and balance land to be acquired.
* Support of the Government of Tamil Nadu is needed to expedite the land acquisition.
* **Project Sanctioning Factors:**
* Sanction of any railway project depends on various parameters, including anticipated traffic projections, connectivity, route augmentation, demands from stakeholders, and availability of funds.
* **Completion Factors:**
* Completion of projects depends on land acquisition, forest clearance, shifting of utilities, statutory clearances, geological conditions, law and order, and the number of working months.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Ministry of Railways
**Impact:**
Responsible for planning, funding, and executing railway projects in Tamil Nadu. The Ministry is affected by budget allocation changes, project approval, and land acquisition issues.
**Action Required:**
Needs to continue project execution, increase budget allocation, monitor the land acquisition process, secure necessary clearances, and address law and order issues to ensure timely project completion.
**Stakeholder:** Government of Tamil Nadu
**Impact:**
Key partner in railway project execution, particularly regarding land acquisition. Delays in land acquisition by the State Government impede progress.
**Action Required:**
Provide support and expedite the land acquisition process for pending projects to ensure timely completion.
**Stakeholder:** Public Representatives from Tamil Nadu
**Impact:**
Their proposals for railway projects influence decision-making and resource allocation by the Railways.
**Action Required:**
Continue to submit proposals and representations for railway projects based on local demands and needs.
**Stakeholder:** Citizens of Tamil Nadu
**Impact:**
Benefit from improved rail infrastructure, connectivity, and safety. Delays in project completion affect their access to these benefits.
**Action Required:**
Monitor project progress and advocate for timely execution and completion.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The primary government entity responsible for railway projects mentioned in the document.
Tamil Nadu: The Indian state where the pending railway projects are located, making it a central location.
Railway projects: General projects described.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2894
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025
PENDING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN TAMIL NADU
2894. SHRI RAJA A:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the pending railway projects in the State of Tamil
Nadu;
(b) the details of the sanctioned cost and the funds released
during the last three years and the current year for these
pending railway projects;
(c) the estimated timeline for completion of these pending railway
projects; and
(d) whether the Railways has received proposals for railway
projects from the public representatives from Tamil Nadu and if
so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Railways in
this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d): Budget allocation in the recent years has increased
significantly. Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety
…2/--2-
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)
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 Expenditure
sanctioned Length Commissioned upto Mar’ 25
projects (in km) upto Mar’25 (₹ in Cr.)
(in km)
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
Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly in
Tamil Nadu are as under :
Cost
S.N. Project
(₹ in Crores)
1 Dindigal-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
1,122
(357 km)
…3/--3-
5 Mayiladuturai - Thiruvarur - Karaikkudi gauge
1,338
conversion (187 km)
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-
1,122
Chengalpattu-3rd line (133 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 18
(1 km)
Some of the projects falling fully/partly in the State of Tamil Nadu
which have been taken up are as under :
Cost
S.N Project
(₹ 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
In last three years i.e. 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and current financial
year 2025-26, 28 surveys (05 new line and 23 doubling) covering a total
…4/--4-
length of 2,493 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 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 Balance
land acquired Land to be
required (in ha) acquired
(in ha) (in ha)
1. Tindivanam-Tiruvannamalai new 276 33 243
line (71 km)
2. Attiputtu-Puttur new line (88 km) 189 0 189
3. Morappur-Dharmapuri new line 92 45 47
(36 km)
4. Mannargudi-Pattukkottai new 196 0 196
line (41 km)
5. Thanjavur-Pattukottai new line 152 0 152
(52 km)
…5/--5-
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.
Proposals/requests/suggestions/representations, both formal and
informal for Railway projects/Works across the country are received on
the basis of demands raised by State Governments, Members of
Parliament, Ministries of Central Government, elected representatives,
Railways’ own requirements, organizations/rail users etc. at various
levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Division Office etc. As
receipt of such proposals/complaints/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.
Sanction of any railway project depend upon many parameters/factors
which include the following:
Anticipated traffic projections and remunerativeness of the
proposed route
…6/--6-
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.
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