Work on fourth-line project from Tambaram to Chengalpattu to begin in January

With the Railway Board having accorded approval for the fourth-line project from Tambaram to Chengalpattu, the work is expected to begin next month.

At present, suburban train services on the southern section operate from Beach to Tambaram, and then Chengalpattu. The fourth-line project is a crucial track expansion aimed at easing congestion for mail, express, and suburban train services.

Sharing details of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the proposed fourth line, officials said that at present, suburban train services in this section cannot be increased due to the operation of mail and express trains on two lines. 

The 30-km track expansion project, to be executed at an estimated cost of ₹713 crore, has become crucial due to the presence of several private colleges, manufacturing hubs, as well as the Kilambakkam bus terminus in the section.

With the announcement of Tambaram as the third railway terminal and Chengalpattu emerging as the gateway to the south corridor, the project will help increase suburban train services. 

The Chennai Division of Southern Railway operates the highest number of suburban services. In the south section, 500 electrical multiple unit (EMU) services operate on a daily basis with a footfall of 1.5 lakh passengers. An additional 100 EMUs are planned after the fourth line is commissioned. 

While expansion projects usually face land acquisition hurdles, Southern Railway is confident about land acquisition for this project. Of the total 30 hectares required, 23 hectares are railway land, four hectares are government land, and only three hectares of private land need to be acquired, officials said.

The Southern Railway would be installing the fourth line as per the latest speed standard of 160 kilometre per hour on the stretch, which is accorded to important Group A routes, said M. Senthamil Selvan, Chief Public Relations Officer of Southern Railway. 

J. Ranganathan, secretary of the Kanchipuram-Chennai Rail Users Association, said that the Chengalpattu railway station, one of the oldest stations serving as a connecting hub to the city and Kancheepuram, should have its track expansion completed at the earliest.