Tamil Nadu: Rs 1057 Crore Sanctioned Under Union Budget Provides Huge Impetus For 9 New Railway Lines Languishing In Limbo For Decades

In a significant impetus to rail connectivity in Tamil Nadu, the Union Government has allocated Rs 1057 crore for the development of nine railway lines as part of the concerted capex push in Budget 2023.

The last new single rail line commissioned in TN was in 1981 when the Tirunelveli-Nagercoil-Kanyakumari line began. Unlike token allocations done earlier, the quantum of funding in this budget will expedite work on long languishing projects.

Here is a look at each one of them.

Tindivanam-Gingee-Tiruvannamalai (70 km)

This line would connect Tindivanam, an important junction in Viluppuram district with Tiruvannamalai, which is a spiritual centre that has the renowned Arunachaleswara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

From Tindivanam, there are roads going to Tiruvannamalai, Puducherry, Kanchipuram and Chennai.

The project received an allocation of Rs 50 crore in this budget.

Tindivanam-Arani-Walajah-Nagari (180 km)

Starting from Tindivanam in Viluppuram district, this line would connect Arani in Tiruvannamalai district, followed by Walajah in Ranipet district and then onwards to Nagari in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.

The line will significantly enhance link between northern districts of the state and facilitate connectivity to Puducherry from Nagari in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh.

18 stations will come up as part of the project at Vandavasi, Cheyyar, Arni, Arcot, Kodaikal Pallipattu and 12 other places. 26 major and 200 minor bridges will also be constructed.

The project received an allocation of Rs 200 crore in this budget.

Chengalpattu-Mahabalipuram-Puducherry-Cuddalore (155 km)

Starting from Chengalpattu near Chennai, this line would connect the heritage site of Mahabalipuram, followed by Puducherry and Cuddalore.

At present, due to the absence of a direct railway link between Cuddalore and Puducherry, rail passengers have to take a much longer route through Viluppuram..

Once completed, travellers will be able to reach Puducherry in little over two hours, as against the five hours via the current line through Chennai Egmore-Viluppuram-Puducherry.

Soil investigation and preparation of work plan on this project is set to commence soon.

The project received an allocation of Rs 50 crore in this budget.

Morappur-Dharmapuri (36 km)

This is one of the shortest rail lines among the nine but it is a critical link as it will provide an alternative route to Chennai from Dharmapuri. At present trains from Dharmapuri towards Chennai have to go to Salem.

The 36-kilometre new line is expected to boost development and trade facilities to the area and provide cheaper transport facilities to the rural populace who will also get connected to important towns like Dharmapuri and Morappur.

The project will have two major bridges, 31 minor bridges, 13 road over bridges and 17 road under bridges and two new stations - Ranimukkanur and Mukkanur.

The project received an allocation of Rs 100 crore in this budget.

Athipattu (Ennore Port)-Puttur (Andhra Pradesh) (88 km)

This line would be more important for freight and container transport rather than passenger transportation. It is expected to help decongest the existing Tiruvallur-Puttur route.

The new line between Puttur and Athipattu will serve to decongest the highly saturated Tiruvallur-Chennai sector and provide a shorter route for iron-ore traffic to Ennore port.

Due to lack of rail connectivity, all the ports in the Chennai region have to depend on expensive road transport for evacuation of cargo to the extent 90 per cent of their turn over.

The project received an allocation of Rs 50 crore in this budget.

Erode-Dharapuram-Palani (91 km)

Due to the lack of direct rail connectivity, passengers from Erode have to change trains at Coimbatore or Dindigul, to reach Palani. Going to either of these stations, makes the route much longer. The 90 kilometre distance takes an average of four hours by train.

While Erode is one of the textile manufacturing hubs of the state, Palani is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga (Karthikeya).

The proposed 91 km line goes through Erode Junction-Chennimalai-Kangeyam-Uthiyur-Dharapuram-Palani in the districts of Erode, Tiruppur and Dindigul.

The project has been a long pending demand of the people of Dharapuram for boosting the agri-economy and all round development of the region.

The project received an allocation of Rs 50 crore in this budget.

Madurai- Aruppukottai- Tuticorin (143.5 km)

It would provide an alternative to the existing Madurai-Tuticorin route that passes through Virudhunagar, Kovilpatti and Sattur.

Sriperumbudur-Guduvanchery (with spurs to Irungattukottai and Avadi) (60 km)

This line too would be mainly used for freight transportation.

Rameswaram- Dhanushkodi (17.2 km)

This line is important from a religious as well as tourism purpose. Dhanushkodi is where the Ram Setu to Sri Lanka starts. A railway line that existed between the two places was destroyed in 1964 by a severe cyclonic storm.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu Witnessing Enormous Development In Railways Under Modi Government Says Annamalai