The Ministry of Railways has approved the construction of a fourth railway line between Tambaram and Chengalpattu, spanning 30.02 km, to enhance capacity on the busy Chennai rail corridor.

Estimated to cost Rs 757.18 crore upon completion, the project will be implemented by Southern Railway under Plan Head-15 (Doubling) as part of the ‘Energy, Mineral & Cement Corridor’. With current line utilisation at 87 percent and expected to rise to 136 percent, the new line will significantly decongest the route, improving both passenger and freight operations.

The project will strengthen suburban rail connectivity up to Chengalpattu, benefiting commuters from Tambaram, Guduvancheri, Chengalpattu, and nearby regions. It is expected to promote a modal shift from road to rail, especially with developments like the Kilambakkam station, integrated bus terminal, and proposed Kanchipuram airport. Post-commissioning, it is projected to generate 1.344 million tonne of freight traffic annually and an estimated Rs 157 crore in additional revenue.