Chennai: The Ministry of Railways has approved the construction of a fourth line on the Tambaram–Chengalpattu section in Tamil Nadu, at an estimated cost of Rs 757.18 crore, aimed at boosting connectivity and easing congestion, the Southern Railway said on Wednesday.

The Tambaram–Chengalpattu section, part of the Chennai Beach–Villupuram–Tiruchirappalli–Kanyakumari route, currently has three lines serving suburban, long-distance, and freight trains. Due to heavy traffic, the section frequently experiences congestion, affecting punctuality and limiting capacity expansion.

The addition of a fourth line is expected to significantly benefit commuters to southern districts, easing congestion and enabling smoother suburban train operations. With current capacity utilisation at 87 per cent and projected to rise to 136 per cent, the new line will also encourage a shift from road to rail transport, benefiting both passenger and freight traffic.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has given the green light for the project, which will be executed by the Southern Railway under ‘Plan Head-15 (Doubling)’ as part of the ‘Energy, Mineral and Cement Corridor’ of the Railways.

"With growing suburban traffic and large-scale residential and industrial development in and around Tambaram, Guduvancheri, Chengalpattu, and Sriperumbudur, the Tambaram-Chengalpattu fourth line will be a boon for daily commuters, students, office goers, IT professionals, and government employees," the Southern Railway said in a statement.

The new line is projected to generate an additional 1.344 million tonnes of freight per year, resulting in extra earnings of Rs 157 crore, as it passes through key industrial hubs in SIPCOT industrial parks at Oragadam, Padappai, and Kancheepuram. The proposed airport at Parandur near Kancheepuram is also expected to increase travel demand along the corridor.

"Upon development of Tambaram as a major coaching terminal, the new line will meet future traffic requirements, segregating suburban and express services, improving operational efficiency, and reducing travel time for passengers," the statement added.