The draft detailed project report (DPR) for doubling the congested 73.5 km Chengalpattu-Arakkonam railway corridor, estimated at Rs 1,538.07 crore, is currently under review.

This stretch operates at over 104 percent of its designed capacity, creating a major bottleneck in Tamil Nadu’s rail system. The expansion is a key part of a planned 192 km circular suburban rail grid around Chennai, aimed at transforming both passenger commuting and freight movement. The loop runs from Chennai Beach through Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Arakkonam, Ranipet, Avadi, and back to the city centre. The Railway Board sanctioned a final location survey in October 2023, conducted by SA Infrastructure Consultants.

Indian Railways is collaborating with the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), which will hold a stakeholder meeting this month to coordinate next steps. Doubling the line will increase train capacity from 13 to around 40 daily, easing passenger delays and creating additional freight slots.

The project also includes integration with 23 multimodal hubs, including Chennai Central and Guindy. Freight growth has been strong, with 1.56 million tonnes handled in 2024-25, and Walajabad goods shed, the largest automotive loading hub in India, generating Rs 32.4 crore annually.