CHENNAI, JUNE 8
Stating that the progressive state of Tamil Nadu is witnessing a new era in rail development with various infrastructural projects like doubling, tripling, gauge conversion and electrification being executed at a faster pace, Southern Railway on Tuesday announced that the annual budgetary outlay for Railways in Tamil Nadu for the financial year 2022-23 is Rs 3,865 crores.
In comparison to the annual outlay of FY 2014-15, the outlay of the current financial year 2022-23 has increased four-fold. There is also an increase in the current financial year’s outlay by 67% when compared with the average outlay for the last eight years, i.e. 2014 to 2022, says Chief Public Relations Officer of Southern Railway B Guganesan.
- Substantial Increase in Budget Grant for Railways in Tamil Nadu in the last 8 years
- Four-fold increase in Railways’ Outlay for Tamil Nadu in 2022-23
The following infrastructural projects were completed and commissioned in Tamil Nadu in the last 8 years since 2014 under the rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi:
Gauge Conversion
400 Km of Gauge conversion projects have been completed and commissioned in Tamil Nadu during the 8 year period from 2014-2022. This includes the Gauge conversion of Palani – Pollachi – Palakkad Town (116.66 Km), Sengottai-New Aryankavu (19.11 Km), Pollachi-Podanur (39.79 Km), Thiruvarur–Tiruturaipundi- Pattukottai- Karaikkudi (149 Km) and Madurai – Teni (75 Km) sections.
Doubling/Tripling/Quadrupling of Tracks
A total of 639.22 Km of Doubling, Tripling & Quadrupling works have been completed in Tamil Nadu during the 8 year period from 2014-2022.
Average Doubling/Tripling/Quadrupling of Railway lines completed during 2014-22 is 80 Kms.
The doubling projects completed during the 8-year period were:
| Sl.No. | Project/Section | Km |
| 1. | Kallakkudi Palaganantham – Ariyalur | 24.5 |
| 2. | Chengalpattu – Karunguzhi – Madurantakam | 24.65 |
| 3. | Tozhuppedu – Olakur – Tindivanam – Perani | 40.2 |
| 4. | Villupuram – Tiruvennainallur-Vriddhachalam-Mathur-Ariyalur | 108.78 |
| 5. | Tiruchchirappalli – Manapparai – Kalpattichatram – Tamaraipadi – Dindigul | 90.17 |
| 6. | Ponmalai Bypass | 2.3 |
| 7. | Valadi – Golden Rock (18 km), Golden Rock – Solagampatti (18.21 km), Solagampatti – Thanjavur | 29 |
| 8. | Takkolam – Arakkonam | 11.29 |
| 9. | Tirumangalam – Tulukapatti – Kovilpatti – Kadambur-VanchiManiyachi – Gangaikondan – Tirunelveli & Kadambur – Tattaparai – Milavattan
|
129 |
| 10. | Omalur – Mecheri Road – Mettur Dam | 29 |
The tripling, quadrupling and other multi-tracking projects completed during the 8-year period were:-
| Sl.No. | Project/Section | Km |
| 1. | Ponmalai-Tiruchchirappalli 3rd line | 2.84 |
| 2. | Tambaram-Chengalpattu 3rd line | 30 |
| 3. | Chennai Beach- Attipattu 4th line | 22.1 |
| 4. | Chennai Beach – Korukkupet 3rd line | 4.2 |
| 5. | 5th and 6th lines between Chennai Central and Basin Bridge | 4.4 |
Fast track Electrification
Electrification of railway lines paves the way for environmental- friendly transportation, cutting of energy costs besides facilitating seamless connectivity and faster travel. Indian Railways is marching ahead in its ambitious mission to achieve 100% electrification of the entire railway network by 2023. Taking Mission 2023 forward, Southern Railway has completed electrification of over 82% of its network so far. In the state of Tamil Nadu, 1664 route kilometers of railway tracks have been electrified during the 8-year period from 2014-2022. This is an increase of 170% when compared to the electrification projects completed during 2009-2014, the statement added.
The electrification projects completed during the 8 year period from 2014 to 2022 in Tamil Nadu were:-
Villupuram-Katpadi (150 km),
Virudunagar-Tuticorin & Tirunelveli (145 km),
Coimbatore North – Mettupalayam (33 km),
Erode-Karur-Tiruchchirappalli (140 km),
Karur-Dindigul (71 km),
Salem-Karur (83.45 km),
Villupuram-Cuddalore Port Jn. (47.70 km),
Tiruchchirappalli-Thanjavur (45.14 km),
Arakkonam – Takkolam Detour line (11.29 km),
Thanjavur – Thiruvarur (54.06 km),
Cuddalore Port-Thiruvarur (114 km),
Thiruchchirappalli Town-Golden Rock bypass (2.07 km),
Thiruvarur – Nagore (31.87 km),
Mayiladuturai – Thanjavur (68 km),
Vriddhachalam – Cuddalore Port (55.48 km),
Nidamangalam – Mannargudi (13.98 km),
Pollachi – Podanur (41.22 km),
Madurai – Manamadurai (47.54 km),
Salem-Attur – Vriddhachalam (136 km),
Manamadurai – Ramanathapuram (60.67 km),
Tiruchchirappalli – Pudukottai – Karaikkudi (89.13 km),
Palani – Pollachi – Muthalamada (84.4 km)
Manamadurai – Virudhunagar (63.22 km).
In line with the robust policies of the Government of India, Railways focus on expeditious completion of infrastructural projects and electrification, marching ahead in its objective to attain self-sufficiency.
