Work On Tambaram-Chengalpattu Fourth Rail Line To Begin In January: Who Benefits And How

Work on the fourth railway line between Tambaram and Chengalpattu in Tamil Nadu is expected to begin in January 2026. The 30.02-km project was approved by the Indian Railways in October and is expected to improve both passenger and freight operations.

The fourth line project will be executed by Southern Railway under Plan Head-15 (Doubling), and has been classified as part of the ‘Energy, Mineral & Cement Corridor’ of Indian Railways. The project has been cleared at a present cost of Rs 713.56 crore, with an estimated completion cost of Rs 757.18 crore.

What Is The Tambaram–Chengalpattu Stretch And Why Is It So Congested?

The Tambaram–Chengalpattu section currently consists of three lines and forms part of the Chennai Beach–Villupuram–Tiruchchirappalli–Kanyakumari

mainline. It handles a mix of suburban, mail/express, and freight traffic, resulting in frequent congestion, delays, and limited scope for expanding services.

Southern Railway has stated that line capacity utilisation in the section already stands at about 87 per cent, and this figure is expected to increase to 136 per cent if the fourth line is not constructed.

At present, suburban train services in this corridor cannot be increased because the same tracks are used by mail and express trains. The result is a bottleneck situation where neither category of trains — suburban or long-distance — can operate at full efficiency.

Who Will Benefit From The Project?

The fourth line is expected to directly benefit suburban passengers from fast-growing areas such as Tambaram, Guduvancheri, Chengalpattu, and Sriperumbudur. These localities have seen a sharp increase in both residential and industrial development, putting added pressure on the existing rail infrastructure.

The stretch also includes several private colleges and manufacturing hubs, further intensifying daily travel needs. Commuters bound for southern Tamil Nadu districts who rely on mail/express trains are also expected to benefit from reduced delays and improved punctuality.

Will Suburban Train Services Increase?

Yes. The Chennai Division of Southern Railway operates the highest number of suburban services. On the southern section alone, 500 electrical multiple unit (EMU) trains operate every day, catering to nearly 1.5 lakh passengers. With the commissioning of the fourth line, an additional 100 EMU services are planned.

This will help in increasing frequency, easing crowding during peak hours, and ensuring more reliable operations. More importantly, the new line will allow suburban and express services to operate independently on separate tracks, avoiding delays caused by crossover dependencies.

What Other Infrastructure Will It Support?

The new line is being seen as critical to the success of other upcoming transport infrastructure in the region.

One key development is the Kilambakkam bus terminus and the adjacent Kilambakkam railway station. The fourth line will allow smoother suburban train operations to this railway station, providing seamless intermodal connectivity for thousands of commuters who will rely on the upcoming bus terminal.

In addition, the proposed airport near Kanchipuram is expected to add to the travel demand in this corridor. The enhanced track capacity will help shift a portion of that load from road to rail.

The project will also support the development of Tambaram as a major coaching terminal. The new line is intended to meet future traffic requirements by segregating suburban and express services, which will reduce delays and improve overall operational efficiency.

Will This Also Help Freight Traffic?

Yes. Apart from handling a growing suburban population, the corridor also passes through important industrial regions that contribute significantly to freight volumes. These include SIPCOT hubs and manufacturing clusters in and around Oragadam, Padappai, and Kanchipuram.

The fourth line is expected to generate an additional freight load of 1.344 million tonnes per annum. The Ministry has projected additional annual earnings of Rs 157 crore after commissioning, based on the expected boost to freight throughput in this section.

Is Land Acquisition A Concern?

Unlike many infrastructure projects that are delayed due to land-related issues, this one is expected to proceed more smoothly.

Of the total 30 hectares required for the project, 23 hectares are already railway land, four hectares are government-owned, and only three hectares need to be acquired from private owners.

Southern Railway has expressed confidence that land availability will not delay the project and that most of the required parcels are already in possession.

What Speed Standard Will The New Line Follow?

The fourth line will be installed according to the 160 kmph speed standard. This is the latest standard assigned to important Group A routes across the Indian Railways network. It ensures that the infrastructure is future-ready to handle higher-speed passenger and freight services.