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The Hindu
12 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Brownfield projects normally cause delays in execution of renovation works, claims railway official
Commuters and social activists have expressed concerns over delays and hardships caused by ongoing railway station redevelopment and track work. Currently, the Southern Railway is undertaking the redevelopment of 15 stations in Chennai division under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and is also constructing a fourth line from Beach to Egmore, and upgrading Egmore terminal and other passenger amenities. As per the initial plans of the Southern Railway, the redevelopment of railway stations under various projects including ABSS was planned to be executed within eight to 12 months but normally the work gets delayed by several months. This execution of the construction work causes severe inconveniences to the commuters in the form of blocked accessways. The work also poses a risk of accidents to commuters, especially senior citizens, and causes inconvenience due to cancellations or curtailments of suburban train services. Transport activist Dayanand Krishnan, referring to the new foot over bridge being constructed at the Tambaram railway station, complained about the contractor executing the work without putting in place safety measures. He also pointed out the delays involved in such redevelopment works. Similar is the case of the delay in the execution of the redevelopment work in Egmore railway station and the fourth line project executed from Egmore to Beach. The redevelopment work of the Egmore railway station was initiated in 2022 but the work is moving slowly, complained several commuters. S. Harish, a regular commuter from Avadi, the 4.5 km fourth line project was proposed to be completed within eight months but the work was completed only two years later. He also said the redevelopment work executed under ABSS project was not being completed on time. M. Senthamil Selvan, Chief Public Relations Officer of Southern Railway, explained that projects like railway station renovations under ABSS are 'brownfield projects,' which involve remodelling existing structures, posing unique execution challenges. The Railways has to take extra precautionary steps to avoid any difficulties to commuters and at the same time continue operating the trains. He said the norm is that any brownfield project is likely to be delayed, while greenfield projects where work begins from scratch can be easily completed on time. He said directions have been issued to the contractor to barricade the area where new FOB work was being executed in Tambaram railway station to avoid any inconveniences to the commuters.
New Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Railway allots Rs 6.7K crore for Tamil Nadu this year; works stalled for 20 years to resume
CHENNAI: After facing severe backlash from both rail passengers and the ruling DMK government over inadequate funding for new lines and doubling projects last year, the Railways significantly enhanced its budget allocation for 2025-26. A total of Rs 612.8 crore has been earmarked for eight new line projects, compared to Rs 339 crore the previous year. Among these, the Nagari-Tindivanam new line project, for which 95% of land has already been acquired, received Rs 347 crore. A total of Rs 6,626 crore was allocated for Tamil Nadu for 2025-26. The funding details were obtained through an RTI request filed by TNIE and activist Dayanand Krishnan, as the Railways have stopped publishing the Pink Book, which traditionally disclosed the annual budget allocations. The Madurai-Thoothukudi (via Aruppukottai) project (143.5km), for which the land acquisition unit was dismantled last year for want of funds, has been allotted Rs 55.2 crore. Notably, the long-delayed Erode-Palani new line, which has existed only on paper for nearly 20 years, received Rs 50 crore. The Chennai-Cuddalore new line via Mahabalipuram was also granted Rs 52.1 crore. Allocation for doubling projects has also shown significant improvement.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Railway funds nearly double; long-stalled projects revived
Chennai: Faced with criticism from Tamil Nadu lawmakers, the Union railway ministry increased funding for long-pending new railway line projects in the state — raising allocation from 222 crore in 2024 to 395.4 crore this is expected to revive nine key projects, including long-promised rail links connecting Chennai to Cuddalore via Mamallapuram, Sriperumbudur-Avadi-Guduvancherry route, and Tindivanam to years, several of these lines were in limbo, with the railway board allocating token amounts of 1,000, technically not shelving them, but withholding progress. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Last year, nearly 90% of the limited funds went just to the Tindivanam–Nagari and Dharmapuri–Morappur year's fund boost is crucial. Some of these are projects first announced in 2007. With proper allocations now, civil work can finally begin," said Tambaram-based resident-activist Dayanand Krishnan, who obtained detailed records through the major allocations is 55 crore for the Madurai–Tuticorin via Aruppukottai line, a project that became controversial after Union railway ainister Ashwini Vaishnaw mistakenly said it was shelved because the Tamil Nadu govt opposed it. Following a rebuttal from state transport minister S S Sivasankar, Vaishnaw clarified that he misheard the question in a noisy press interaction. The 143-km project, after being sidelined last year, now has its budget residents and activists question whether the revised allocations are adequate. "Tuticorin district alone sought 15 crore just for land acquisition. How will 55 crore be enough for the entire project," asked R Srinivasan, an advocate from Madurai who frequently travels on this route. Similarly, the Tindivanam–Tiruvannamalai project needs at least 95 crore for acquiring 35 acres of land in Tiruvannamalai district alone, while the 2025 budget sets aside just 42.7 crore. "There is no point in allocating money for name's sake," said S Kamal, a transportation Railway officials maintain that the renewed allocations will jump-start implementation. Land acquisition is nearing completion for the Tindivanam–Nagari line, and final surveys are underway for the Avadi–Sriperumbudur–Guduvanchery corridor. Officials said civil work will commence as soon as pending procedural clearances are obtained.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Another setback for airport metro
Chennai: The Airport–Kilambakkam extension of has encountered another setback, with the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs ( ) objecting to Tamil Nadu govt's submission of outdated documents for project 15.4-km corridor, estimated at 9,335 crore, is part of metro rail's phase I extension and is designed as a two-tier structure along GST Road an elevated road at level-1 and metro tracks at state govt finally clearing the extension late April and submitting the proposal for central funding, a critical oversight stalled progress. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On reviewing the detailed project report (DPR), Centre flagged that the comprehensive mobility plan (CMP) which outlines commuting patterns and justifies metro expansion was five years old and did not reflect Chennai's current traffic realities. MoHUA directed Tamil Nadu to update the CMP and resubmit it along with the rail officials now say Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), a nodal govt agency to coordinate urban transport, is updating the CMP and that there would be no changes to the DPR's project already faced delays due to multiple design revisions. Initially, the Airport–Kilambakkam corridor was envisioned as an 18-20-metre-high elevated metro line. That plan was derailed after the highways department proposed a parallel elevated road. A later redesign, with the metro at level-3 and the road at level-2, was dropped due to prohibitive costs. The current plan metro at level-2 and road at level-1 awaits Centre's say this isn't the first time CMRL's outdated submissions have cost time. "The same mistake happened with Madurai and Coimbatore feasibility reports. It shows negligence at the planning stage itself," said a Tambaram-based resident-activist Dayanand Krishnan. He added that MoHUA's quick detection within a month should pressure CMRL to act swiftly, as the extension has already been languishing since 2020.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
T.N. govt. approves Chennai Metro Rail's Airport-Kilambakkam project, forwards proposal to Centre
After years of wait, the Tamil Nadu government has approved Chennai Metro Rail's Airport-Kilambakkam project and has forwarded the detailed project report (DPR) to the Centre. To be built at an estimated cost of ₹9,335 crore, the Airport-Kilambakkam corridor has been one of the most anticipated projects for Chennaiites, as it would significantly improve the commute for those residing in the city's southern areas, such as Chromepet, Pallavaram, Tambaram, and Perungalathur. The need for this corridor has become particularly essential after the opening of the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) in Kilambakkam in December 2023; thousands of people travel on this route to take buses from the terminus. The Airport-Kilambakkam corridor will be constructed entirely as an elevated stretch along GST Road, covering a distance of 15.46 km. Stations are to come up in the following locations: Pallavaram, Chromepet, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Tambaram, Irumbuliyur, Perungalathur, Vandalur, Anna Zoological Park, and Kilambakkam. Land acquisition Sources said the government has recommended the DPR to the Centre 'for its approval and funding under equity sharing basis.' The land acquisition and shifting of utilities will begin soon. 'To begin the land acquisition process, we need yet another notification, which will take six months. Once that comes through, the acquisition process can commence, but it could go on for at least a year and a half. But shifting of utilities can start within a few months,' a source said. The project will need approval from the Centre by then so that construction can begin. There were quite a lot of delays in this project due to design changes. Now, according to the final proposal, Chennai Metro Rail's Airport-Kilambakkam corridor is proposed at the second level and the elevated road at the first level. Commuters say those residing in the southern areas find it difficult to reach the nearest Chennai Metro Rail station — the Chennai airport station — due to lack of adequate last-mile connectivity vehicles. For some, it could cost as much as ₹100-200, based on the distance, if they take an auto. Dayanand Krishnan, a resident of Chitlapakkam said, people have waited for over four years for the approval of this project. In the meantime, the number of vehicles has gone up and congestion has increased manifold, especially after the opening of the Kilambakkam Bus Terminus. 'The design revisions and bureaucratic delays end up causing inconvenience to the public. I am glad that State's approval has come, but the Centre should also provide the final approval and funding without any further delays,' he said. He said, over the years, people have moved to areas like Chromepet, Tambaram, and Perungalathur, as paying rent and purchasing properties is affordable there in comparison to the core areas of the city. 'But when compared to the growth, the investment in infrastructure in these areas seems far too inadequate,' he added.
