Indian Railways Approves ₹993 Crore Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project to Boost Chennai Suburban Rail Network

Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project to Ease Congestion, Strengthen Passenger Movement and Boost Transportation of Cement, Automobiles and Foodgrains: Ashwini Vaishnaw Posted On: 19 MAY 2026 11:05AM by PIB Delhi Indian Railways has approved the Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project (68 km) of Southern Railway at a cost of ₹993 crore, reinforcing its commitment towards safer, faster and more efficient rail transportation across the country. The section forms part of the important Chennai suburban circular rail network connecting Chennai Beach, Tambaram, Chengalpattu and Arakkonam. The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project will play a significant role in easing congestion on the busy Chennai suburban rail network while improving punctuality and operational efficiency. He said the project will strengthen both passenger and freight movement across the corridor, benefiting transportation of key commodities including cement, automobiles, food grains, iron and steel. At present, the existing single line section is operating at a high level of capacity utilisation, and traffic is expected to increase further in the coming years, necessitating additional infrastructure augmentation. The doubling work will help reduce detention time of trains, improve punctuality and increase the frequency of suburban services. The route serves several major economic and industrial hubs including Mahindra World City, Sriperumbudur, Oragadam and Irungattukottai, along with important automobile, cement and manufacturing industries. The proposed Parandur Airport project near Kancheepuram is also located close to the alignment, further increasing the strategic importance of the route. The approval of the Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project marks another significant step in Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to modernise rail infrastructure, enhance network capacity and improve operational efficiency across key corridors. The project is expected to strengthen suburban and freight connectivity, support regional industrial growth and provide faster, safer and more reliable transportation services. ***** Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj/ Manik Sharma (Release ID: 2262619) Visitor Counter : 1375 Read this release in: Odia , Urdu , हिन्दी , Punjabi , Gujarati , Tamil , Telugu , Kannada Ministry of Railways Indian Railways Approves ₹993 Crore Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project to Boost Chennai Suburban Rail Network Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project to Ease Congestion, Strengthen Passenger Movement and Boost Transportation of Cement, Automobiles and Foodgrains: Ashwini Vaishnaw Posted On: 19 MAY 2026 11:05AM by PIB Delhi Indian Railways has approved the Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project (68 km) of Southern Railway at a cost of ₹993 crore, reinforcing its commitment towards safer, faster and more efficient rail transportation across the country. The section forms part of the important Chennai suburban circular rail network connecting Chennai Beach, Tambaram, Chengalpattu and Arakkonam. The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project will play a significant role in easing congestion on the busy Chennai suburban rail network while improving punctuality and operational efficiency. He said the project will strengthen both passenger and freight movement across the corridor, benefiting transportation of key commodities including cement, automobiles, food grains, iron and steel. At present, the existing single line section is operating at a high level of capacity utilisation, and traffic is expected to increase further in the coming years, necessitating additional infrastructure augmentation. The doubling work will help reduce detention time of trains, improve punctuality and increase the frequency of suburban services. The route serves several major economic and industrial hubs including Mahindra World City, Sriperumbudur, Oragadam and Irungattukottai, along with important automobile, cement and manufacturing industries. The proposed Parandur Airport project near Kancheepuram is also located close to the alignment, further increasing the strategic importance of the route. The approval of the Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project marks another significant step in Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to modernise rail infrastructure, enhance network capacity and improve operational efficiency across key corridors. The project is expected to strengthen suburban and freight connectivity, support regional industrial growth and provide faster, safer and more reliable transportation services. ***** Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj/ Manik Sharma (Release ID: 2262619) Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project to Ease Congestion, Strengthen Passenger Movement and Boost Transportation of Cement, Automobiles and Foodgrains: Ashwini Vaishnaw<br/>" /> <span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">Indian Railways has approved the Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project (68 km) of Southern Railway at a cost of ₹993 crore, reinforcing its commitment towards safer, faster and more efficient rail transportation across the country.<strong> </strong>The section forms part of the important Chennai suburban circular rail network connecting Chennai Beach, Tambaram, Chengalpattu and Arakkonam.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:4.5pt; margin-right:9.0pt; text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project will play a significant role in easing congestion on the busy Chennai suburban rail network while improving punctuality and operational efficiency. He said the project will strengthen both passenger and freight movement across the corridor, benefiting transportation of key commodities including cement, automobiles, food grains, iron and steel. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:4.5pt; margin-right:9.0pt; text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">At present, the existing single line section is operating at a high level of capacity utilisation, and traffic is expected to increase further in the coming years, necessitating additional infrastructure augmentation. The doubling work will help reduce detention time of trains, improve punctuality and increase the frequency of suburban services. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:4.5pt; margin-right:9.0pt; text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The route serves several major economic and industrial hubs including Mahindra World City, Sriperumbudur, Oragadam and Irungattukottai, along with important automobile, cement and manufacturing industries. The proposed Parandur Airport project near Kancheepuram is also located close to the alignment, further increasing the strategic importance of the route.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:4.5pt; margin-right:9.0pt; text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px">The approval of the Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Doubling Project marks another significant step in Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to modernise rail infrastructure, enhance network capacity and improve operational efficiency across key corridors. The project is expected to strengthen suburban and freight connectivity, support regional industrial growth and provide faster, safer and more reliable transportation services.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:4.5pt; margin-right:9.0pt; text-align:center"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px"> *****</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left:4.5pt; margin-right:9.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><strong>Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj/ Manik Sharma</strong></span></span></p> " /> var mPlayer = document.getElementById("background_music"); var mPlayAction = document.getElementById("playbutton"); var isPlaying = false; function playAudio() { mPlayer.play(); isPlaying = true; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "none"; } function pauseAudio() { mPlayer.pause(); isPlaying = false; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "block"; 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