Dharmapuri-Morappur Railway Line Delayed by Land Acquisition
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Dharmapuri-Morappur Railway Line Delayed by Land Acquisition

Railway passengers in Dharmapuri renewed calls for a speedy completion of the Dharmapuri-Morappur railway line as land acquisition remains incomplete. The route was originally constructed in 1906 by the British administration and linked Dharmapuri with Morappur and northern districts including Vellore and Chennai. The tracks were dismantled in 1941 to supply iron for the Second World War and have remained out of service since.

The revival project was sanctioned in 2019 at Rs 3,589.5 million (Rs 3.5895 bn) and a foundation stone was laid by the then Union Minister of Railways, Piyush Goyal. Despite the sanction, officials report that land acquisition has progressed slowly over seven years and that only part of the required area has been secured. Passengers and local stakeholders continue to press Southern Railway for expedited action.

According to the Dharmapuri administration, the alignment runs through three taluks and 18 villages and requires 93 acres in total. To date about 47 acres have been secured, including 33 acres that are government land. Local business representatives have noted that the lack of direct trains to Chennai has discouraged investment and that the revived link would facilitate access to Chennai ports for freight and to air links.

Southern Railway officials attributed the delay to legal challenges from landholders, stated that the High Court has issued directions in the matter, and confirmed that notices have been served to advance acquisition. They indicated that construction could begin once acquisition is complete and that they expect the project to be finished within two years, subject to unforeseen circumstances. The scheme envisages two new railway stations, four major bridges, 36 minor bridges and several underpasses and is expected to increase the number of trains serving the district.

Railway passengers in Dharmapuri renewed calls for a speedy completion of the Dharmapuri-Morappur railway line as land acquisition remains incomplete. The route was originally constructed in 1906 by the British administration and linked Dharmapuri with Morappur and northern districts including Vellore and Chennai. The tracks were dismantled in 1941 to supply iron for the Second World War and have remained out of service since. The revival project was sanctioned in 2019 at Rs 3,589.5 million (Rs 3.5895 bn) and a foundation stone was laid by the then Union Minister of Railways, Piyush Goyal. Despite the sanction, officials report that land acquisition has progressed slowly over seven years and that only part of the required area has been secured. Passengers and local stakeholders continue to press Southern Railway for expedited action. According to the Dharmapuri administration, the alignment runs through three taluks and 18 villages and requires 93 acres in total. To date about 47 acres have been secured, including 33 acres that are government land. Local business representatives have noted that the lack of direct trains to Chennai has discouraged investment and that the revived link would facilitate access to Chennai ports for freight and to air links. Southern Railway officials attributed the delay to legal challenges from landholders, stated that the High Court has issued directions in the matter, and confirmed that notices have been served to advance acquisition. They indicated that construction could begin once acquisition is complete and that they expect the project to be finished within two years, subject to unforeseen circumstances. The scheme envisages two new railway stations, four major bridges, 36 minor bridges and several underpasses and is expected to increase the number of trains serving the district.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Equipment

Zoomlion Unveils 1,600 HP Hybrid Tractor for Large Farms

Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology has recently unveiled its 9DX hybrid tractor at the 2026 China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition in China. Delivering a peak output of 1,600 horsepower, the tractor is claimed by the company to be the world's most powerful and is designed for large-scale, heavy-duty agricultural operations.The 9DX incorporates an in-house-developed digital chassis, core components and intelligent control systems. Its hybrid continuously variable transmission technology and 800-volt dual-motor coupling system generate peak torque of 7,200 Nm, enabli..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

BASF Kids' Lab Brings Climate Education to 1,150 Hyderabad Students

BASF, in collaboration with the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad, has recently organised its Kids' Lab programme from 26 to 31 October 2026, aiming to engage 1,150 municipal schoolchildren in hands-on chemistry experiments and climate action awareness.Designed for children aged eight to 12, the initiative encourages scientific curiosity through interactive experiments while introducing concepts related to sustainability, environmental protection and climate change.The BASF Kids' Lab programme operates in more than 30 countries and has reached over 62,000 scho..

Next Story
Building Material

JK Lakshmi Cement Begins Rs 110 Billion Assam Plant Project

JK Lakshmi Cement has recently laid the foundation stone for Project Kamakshi, its first integrated cement manufacturing facility in Assam, marking its entry into Northeast India. The groundbreaking ceremony was held at Umrangso village in Dima Hasao district in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.The project involves an investment of Rs 110 billion, including the mining lease, and will have an annual cement production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes, supported by a 1 million tonne clinkerisation unit. Scheduled for completion by FY2029, the facility is expected to generate..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code