Indian Railways approves ₹993-crore Arakkonam-Chengalpattu track doubling project

The sanctioning comes in the wake of the Southern Railway conducting the survey work for acquiring land last year.

Updated – May 19, 2026 01:27 pm IST – CHENNAI

The Hindu Bureau

A view of the suburban train in Arakkonam. Indian Railways has approved Arakkonam-Chengalpattu doubling project at a cost of ₹993 crore. File
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Indian Railways, on Tuesday (May 19, 2026), has approved the Arakkonam-Chengalpattu doubling project along a stretch of 68 kms at a cost of ₹993 crore. The project will link some of the important places including Wallajabad, Kancheepuram and Thakkolam. 

In a press statement, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw mentioned 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.

Mr. Vaishnaw said the project will strengthen both passenger and freight movements across the corridor, benefiting transportation of key commodities including cement, automobiles, food grains, iron and steel.

The sanctioning comes in the wake of the Southern Railway conducting the survey work for acquiring land last year. Once the doubling project is completed, it would also provide a circular rail network for the Chennai division to operate suburban trains connecting Beach, Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Arakkonam.

At present, the existing double line section is operating at a high level of capacity utilisation, and the 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 would serve 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, railway officials said.

The stretch serves several big companies in Mahindra World City, Sriperumbudur, Oragadam and Irungattukottai. The proposed Parandur Airport project near Kancheepuram is also located close to the alignment, further increasing the strategic importance of the route.

Published – May 19, 2026 11:34 am IST

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