Following sustained pressure from Tamil Nadu legislators and public activists, the Union Railway Ministry has more than doubled its allocation for new railway line projects in the state, setting aside Rs 3.95 billion for the financial year 2025—up from Rs 2.22 billion in 2024.

This budget enhancement is set to revive nine key railway lines, many of which have seen little to no progress for years. Projects such as Chennai–Cuddalore via Mamallapuram, Avadi–Sriperumbudur–Guduvanchery, and Tindivanam–Tiruvannamalai will now move forward after languishing since their initial announcements—some dating as far back as 2007—due to token allocations of Rs 1,000 that kept them on record without advancing them.

A notable beneficiary is the Madurai–Tuticorin via Aruppukottai project, which has received Rs 550 million—three times last year’s allocation. This comes after a public misstatement by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who incorrectly claimed the state government had opposed the project, a remark he later retracted.

Despite the boost, concerns persist. Activists point out that funding still falls short of practical requirements. “Tuticorin district alone needs Rs 150 million for land acquisition. How will Rs 550 million cover the entire 143-kilometre line?” asked Madurai-based lawyer R Srinivasan. Similarly, Rs 427 million has been sanctioned for the Tindivanam–Tiruvannamalai project, although just one district requires Rs 950 million for land.

Southern Railway officials maintain that this increase signals genuine progress. Land acquisition for the Tindivanam–Nagari corridor is nearly complete, and surveys for the Sriperumbudur–Guduvanchery stretch are in their final stages. Civil work is expected to commence once final clearances are secured.