Tamil Nadu Railways: From Rameswaram–Dhanushkodi To New Lines, What Is The Status of Key Rail Projects?

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has mounted a detailed defence of the Centre's railway record in Tamil Nadu, pushing back against Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's charge that the Union government has consistently denied the State its fair share of railway projects. In a series of posts on X, Vaishnaw outlined budgetary support, project-wise progress, and bottlenecks, placing the spotlight firmly on land acquisition delays.

According to the Railway Minister, budgetary allocation to Tamil Nadu Railways has seen a sharp rise since 2014. From relatively modest levels a decade ago, the allocation has increased more than 8.5 times, reaching ₹7,611 crore in the 2026-27 Union Budget. Vaishnaw stressed that funding is not the constraint and rejected claims that projects were stalled due to lack of money.

However, he flagged land acquisition as the single biggest hurdle across multiple projects. Of the total 4,326 hectares required for ongoing railway works in the State, only 1,052 hectares - about 24% - have been handed over so far. The Centre, he said, has already paid ₹1,465 crore to the Tamil Nadu government towards land acquisition, but progress on the ground remains slow.

Among the most delayed projects is the Madurai-Thoothukudi new broad-gauge line via Aruppukkottai, spanning 144 km. Vaishnaw pointed out that 91% of the required land for this project is still pending, making meaningful construction impossible despite administrative sanctions. The line is seen as crucial for improving connectivity between southern Tamil Nadu's industrial and port hubs.

A similar situation persists with the Tindivanam-Gingee-Tiruvannamalai new line project, covering 71.33 km. Here, 86% of land acquisition is yet to be completed, according to the Railways. The project is intended to improve rail access in northern Tamil Nadu and decongest existing routes, but remains stuck due to land-related issues.

The Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi new line project was also highlighted. Its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, but Vaishnaw said land acquisition has not even begun so far. He attributed this to a lack of cooperation from the State government, calling it a major reason for the project remaining on paper years after its launch.

Despite these challenges, the Railway Minister underlined broader progress in Tamil Nadu's rail infrastructure. The Centre has sanctioned multiple new lines, doubling works, and third and fourth line projects to boost capacity. Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have also been prepared for future expansions to support the State's economic and industrial growth.

Station redevelopment has seen visible movement under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Out of 77 stations identified in Tamil Nadu for comprehensive redevelopment, work has already been completed at 18 stations. Track construction has also gathered pace, with around 1,350 km of railway tracks laid in the State since 2014.

Electrification is another area where the Railways claims near-completion. Tamil Nadu has achieved 97% electrification, with 2,386 km of rail lines electrified over the past decade. On the services front, "Made in India" trains are now a regular feature, including nine pairs each of Vande Bharat Express and Amrit Bharat Express services operating within or through the State.

Responding to Stalin's counter-claims - including assertions that 94% land acquisition is complete for 19 projects and that funds have not been released despite administrative sanction - Vaishnaw maintained that the Centre remains ready and committed. He said timely and full cooperation from the State government is essential to translate sanctioned projects into completed rail infrastructure for Tamil Nadu.