Unicaus NEWS
The Southern Railway is expecting the freight capacity on the route to reach 15 million tonnes per annum after the project is executed. | Photo Credit: S.R. RAGHUNATHAN
Since the project announcement, the residents of north Chennai have been waiting for some action on the part of the railways. The project would be for a total length of 22.50-kilometre, costing ₹374 crore.
The setting up of third and fourth lines would help decongest the existing line, which is being utilised almost 100% due to the presence of several industrial units, tourism spots and three major ports, including the Kattupalli port, in the region. At present, the track is used for suburban, freight, mail and express trains, causing severe inconvenience to the suburban train commuters in the north section.
Land acquisition for the project, estimated to cost ₹1,800 crore, has been initiated. The Southern Railway is expecting the freight capacity on the route to reach 15 million tonnes per annum after the project is executed. Once the third and fourth lines are completed till Gudur, the mail and express trains would have a seamless and faster operation based on the modern track system having a maximum speed limit of 160 kilometres per hour, said M. Senthamil Selvan, Chief Public Relations officer of Southern Railway.
S. Sureshbabu, president of Gummidipoondi Railway Passengers Welfare Association, in a memorandum to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had requested expediting the tender process for the project, upgrading the loop lines for increasing the speed limit for operation of suburban trains at Gummidipoondi station from 15-kilometre per hour to 30 kmph, and the utilisation of a separate track for suburban, and mail and express trains.
In addition to the project, the Railway Board has given approval for a similar work on the Gummidipoondi-Gudur stretch.
Published – January 02, 2026 07:41 pm IST
