Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (file photo)
| Photo Credit:
ANI
The Government of India remains fully committed to railway development in Tamil Nadu, with budgetary allocation increasing more than 8.5 times since 2014 to ₹7,611 crore in 2026–27, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Monday.
However, progress on several key projects has been hampered as only 24 per cent of the land required for ongoing railway works has been handed over so far despite the Centre having already paid ₹1,465 crore to the State towards land acquisition, he said.
The Minister’s statement came in response to a letter written by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, seeking his intervention for the release of funds for railway projects in the State.
“Projects are not stalled due to a lack of funds. Any such claim is baseless. Land acquisition is a major issue affecting many projects in Tamil Nadu,” Vaishnaw said.
He cited specific cases, noting that land acquisition is pending to the extent of 91 per cent for the Madurai–Tuticorin via Aruppukkotai (144 km) new line project and 86 per cent for the Tindivanam–Gingee–Tiruvannamalai (71.33 km) new line.
Referring to the Rameswaram–Dhanushkodi new line, the Minister said the foundation stone for the project was laid by Prime Minister Modi in 2019, but land acquisition is yet to begin due to what he described as non-cooperation from the State Government.
Despite these challenges, Vaishnaw said the Centre has sanctioned several new lines, doubling projects and third and fourth line works in Tamil Nadu. Detailed project reports (DPRs) have also been prepared for further capacity expansion to support the State’s economic and industrial growth.
Since 2014, around 1,350 km of railway tracks have been constructed in Tamil Nadu, he said. The State has also achieved 97 per cent electrification, with 2,386 km of rail lines electrified during the period.
“The Centre is ready and committed. Timely support from the State Government is essential to deliver faster infrastructure growth to the people of Tamil Nadu,” the Minister added.
Published on February 9, 2026
