Railways approves ₹2,193 crore for Tamil Nadu, Bihar capacity expansion, Jammu safety works

Indian Railways has approved three infrastructure and safety projects worth a total of ₹2,193 crore, including line expansion works in Tamil Nadu and Bihar and slope stabilisation measures on the Jammu-Katra section, the government said on Tuesday.

The approved projects are the ₹993-crore Arakkonam-Chengalpattu doubling project in Tamil Nadu, the ₹962-crore Kiul-Jhajha third line project in Bihar, and ₹238-crore protection and rehabilitation works on the Jammu-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra section.

The 68-km Arakkonam-Chengalpattu doubling project on Southern Railway forms part of the Chennai suburban circular rail network connecting Chennai Beach, Tambaram, Chengalpattu and Arakkonam.

The ministry said the project will help ease congestion on the busy suburban corridor, improve punctuality and allow more frequent train services.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the project will strengthen both passenger and freight movement across the corridor, benefiting transportation of key commodities including cement, automobiles, food grains, iron and steel.

The route serves industrial hubs such as Mahindra World City, Sriperumbudur, Oragadam and Irungattukottai, and is expected to support movement of commodities including cement, automobiles, foodgrains, iron and steel.

The 54-km Kiul-Jhajha third line project will augment capacity on the high-density Howrah-Delhi corridor, an important part of Indian Railways' High Traffic Density Network.

Vaishnaw said that the project will significantly enhance capacity on the heavily utilised Howrah-Delhi corridor and help improve punctuality and operational flexibility of train services.

The route also provides freight connectivity between Kolkata and Haldia ports and the Raxaul-Nepal border, and serves key installations such as Barh Super Thermal Power Project, Jawahar Super Thermal Power Project and Birganj Inland Container Depot.

Indian Railways has also sanctioned ₹238 crore for slope stabilisation, tunnel rehabilitation, seepage treatment and bridge protection works on the Jammu-Katra section of Northern Railway.

The section, which connects Jammu to the pilgrimage town of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, traverses difficult terrain and has faced engineering challenges due to adverse geological conditions and extreme weather events.

Vaishnaw said the approved measures will improve the long-term safety and reliability of the strategically important route used by millions of passengers every year.