Chennai Rail Corridor Gets a $757 Cr. Capacity Boost

The Ministry of Railways has approved the construction of a fourth railway line between Tambaram and Chengalpattu, spanning 30.02 km, to boost capacity and efficiency along the highly congested Chennai rail corridor.

Estimated to cost ₹757.18 crore, the project will be executed by Southern Railway under Plan Head–15 (Doubling) as part of the ‘Energy, Mineral & Cement Corridor’ initiative. With current line utilisation already at 87% and projected to reach 136%, the new line will play a crucial role in decongesting the section and enhancing both passenger and freight operations.

The project will also strengthen suburban connectivity up to Chengalpattu, benefiting commuters from Tambaram, Guduvancheri, Chengalpattu, and surrounding areas. It is expected to encourage a modal shift from road to rail, supported by infrastructure developments such as the Kilambakkam railway station, integrated bus terminal, and the proposed Kanchipuram airport.

Upon commissioning, the new line is projected to generate 1.344 million tonnes of freight traffic annually, contributing approximately ₹157 crore in additional revenue while advancing sustainable transport and regional mobility goals.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.