The Railway Board has approved a construction project to add fifth and sixth railway lines between Perambur and Ambattur on the Chennai–Arakkonam stretch. Spanning 6.4 km, the Rs 182 crore project is slated for implementation under the 2024–25 umbrella works and will utilise existing railway land, eliminating the need for fresh land acquisition.
At present, the corridor operates with two fast lines for express trains and two slow lines for suburban services. With line capacity utilisation already at 105.2 percent, increasing passenger and freight traffic is projected to push utilisation to 114.4 percent by 2028–29. The additional lines will significantly ease congestion at Chennai Central station and improve punctuality for both long‑distance and suburban services.
A key driver behind the project is the upcoming Perambur Coaching Terminal, which is expected to absorb 75 percent of the train operations now managed at Chennai Central. Rail officials highlight a financial rate of return of 17.45 percent for the project, underpinned by freight movement of 7.03 million tonnes per annum.
Surveys are complete, and construction work is scheduled to commence later this year. The Railway Board aims to complete the expansion within three years, bolstering capacity on one of South India’s busiest rail corridors.
