TN gets Rs 6,626 crore for railways, marginal rise of four per cent from last year

Chennai Egmore-Beach fourth line project likely to be completed soon: Southern Railway
The allocated funds will be utilised for ongoing new line projects, doubling of tracks, station redevelopment initiatives, safety-related works, and other maintenance activities.
The allocated funds will be utilised for ongoing new line projects, doubling of tracks, station redevelopment initiatives, safety-related works, and other maintenance activities.(Photo | Express)
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CHENNAI: Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said Rs 6,626 crore has been allocated for 2025-26 in the Union Budget for Tamil Nadu which is a marginal 4 per cent increase compared to the allocation of Rs 6,362 crore made for 2024-25.

The allocated funds will be utilised for ongoing new line projects, doubling of tracks, station redevelopment initiatives, safety-related works, and other maintenance activities. Details of the extent of utilisation of last year’s allotted fund in the ongoing financial year would be known only later, railway sources said.

Addressing reporters via video conferencing from New Delhi, Vaishnaw said the question of low or high fund allocation for railway projects is irrelevant, as these projects are executed systematically throughout the year.

“In the past, new railway lines, services, and trains were announced in a populist manner even when there was no capacity to support them. For example, 10 years ago, it was common to allocate small sums like Rs 1,000 or Rs 1 lakh for projects, regardless of whether the project was actually implemented,” Vaishnaw said, adding that “but now, we operate systematically.

Projects are only pursued if the survey indicates they are feasible. The detailed project report (DPR) informs us whether there is enough traffic to justify the project, and this process is carried out consistently throughout the year. Then, we get approval from finance, commerce ministries and then the Cabinet approves it”.

Kaushal Kishore, Additional General Manager of Southern Railway, mentioned that the routes for introducing Vande Metro trains will be determined later. “At present, there is demand for Vande Metro services on the Chennai-Katpadi/Jolarpettai, Chennai-Villupuram, and Chennai-Gudur sections. Once the rakes are allocated, we will finalise the routes,” he said, adding that the Chennai Egmore-Beach fourth line project is expected to be completed within a month or two.

According to an official statement, 22 projects covering 2,587 km, with a total cost of Rs 33,467 crore, are currently under way in Tamil Nadu. Additionally, 77 railway stations in the state are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a cost of Rs 2,948 crore. Out of the total sanctioned 1,460 km, work is in progress to commission the Kavach safety system on 601 km of railway lines.

Explaining the funds allotted for track renewal, safety-related works, and the manufacturing of 50 rakes of Namo Metro trains, 100 Vande Bharat rakes, and 100 Amrit Bharat trains, the minister said, “Currently, one Namo Bharat service is operational between Ahmedabad and Bhuj. The Namo Bharat trains will be deployed on highly congested routes connecting areas within 200 km from metro cities. These rakes will have both AC and non-AC coaches.”

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