The Impressive TimesChennai, January10, 2025: In a surprising turn of events, Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced on Friday that the much-anticipated 143.5-km broad-gauge (BG) railway line connecting Madurai to Thoothukudi via Aruppukottai has been scrapped due to opposition from the Tamil Nadu state government. This development has left the future of the project uncertain, despite years of planning and initial construction.
The project, which had been in progress since 2016 under the Southern Railway’s construction unit, was expected to improve transport connectivity in the region, particularly in underserved areas like Vilathikulam, Pudur, and Nagalapuram. The railway line was also planned to facilitate the movement of goods, with a cargo train intended to operate to the Thoothukudi Port, helping boost logistics across the country. The total cost of the project was estimated at Rs 1,875 crore.
During his visit to the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, Vaishnaw addressed questions from The New Indian Express about the suspension of the land acquisition unit in Madurai, which had been dedicated to acquiring land for the project. The unit had been in operation since its establishment but was suspended effective from January 1, 2025. Vaishnaw confirmed that the Tamil Nadu government had expressed its opposition to the project, although he did not delve into the reasons behind the state’s decision.
Despite this setback, the project had received support from some quarters, including Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi, who is also the deputy general secretary of the DMK. Kanimozhi had previously advocated for the completion of the project in Parliament, emphasizing its potential to boost connectivity and economic development in the region. The project had originally been approved in 2011–12, and work on the line began in 2016. By March 2022, an 18-km stretch between Milavittan and Melmarudur had been completed and cleared for operation by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
However, land acquisition for the remaining stretch of the line, from Melmarudur to Thiruparankundram, has been slow. Only about 35 to 40 percent of the land required for the remaining sections has been acquired. In the 2023–24 interim budget, Rs 100 crore had been allocated for the project, but in the general budget, the amount was drastically reduced to just Rs 18.72 crore, raising doubts about the project’s future viability.
Southern Railway officials have stated that further clarification regarding the discontinuation of the project will be provided by the Railway Board. However, Tamil Nadu government representatives have not yet commented on the decision.
This development marks a significant setback for the proposed railway line, which had been seen as a key infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity and driving economic growth in the southern region of India. While the project is officially on hold, the state’s objections highlight the ongoing challenges in aligning state and central government priorities when it comes to large-scale infrastructure initiatives. The future of the Madurai–Thoothukudi BG line now hangs in the balance, with stakeholders awaiting further clarification from both the state and central authorities.
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