Tambaram-Chengalpattu third rail line to ease congestion

07 Sep 2021 CW Team

The railways proposed developing lines three and four in 2010, with work beginning in 2015 at a cost of Rs 256 crore, because the two tracks between Tambaram and Chengalpattu were at 100% capacity.

The project was supposed to be finished by February 2017, but it was delayed due to track alignment issues, as the third line passes through multiple road overbridges. The proposed new line would run dangerously close to the pillar of the six-lane road overbridge at Vandalur station. The distance between the track centre and permanent structures must be 2.36 m according to railway safety guidelines.

In two separate incidents in July 2018, seven footboard passengers were killed after colliding with the concrete wall abutting the third line at St Thomas Mount station. Delays in land acquisition also contributed to the project's slow progress. On October 30, 2020, the 11 km new line between Guduvancheri and Singaperumalkoil was completed and opened. On March 6, the Commissioner of Railway Safety approved the 8 km track between Singaperumalkoil and Chengalpattu for operation.

In addition to speeding up express trains, the new line will make it easier to expand suburban services during rush hours. Tambaram and Chengalpattu is served by 23 daily express specials and seven weekly specials. The Tiruchy - Chennai Egmore Cholan Special takes 38 minutes, while the Puducherry and Chennai Egmore Special takes 33 minutes.

On September 12 and 19, the railways cancelled services in the Chennai-Chengalpattu section to allow for engineering maintenance.

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Also read: Karnataka may revive plans to link high speed rail to B’luru airport

The completion of a 30 km broad gauge third line connecting Tambaram and Chengalpattu will relieve traffic congestion on the Southwestern suburban route. Once the new line is operational, the Chennai bound express trains from the Southern districts that have been delayed due to track unavailability between Chengalpattu and Tambaram will most likely be accelerated. The railways proposed developing lines three and four in 2010, with work beginning in 2015 at a cost of Rs 256 crore, because the two tracks between Tambaram and Chengalpattu were at 100% capacity. The project was supposed to be finished by February 2017, but it was delayed due to track alignment issues, as the third line passes through multiple road overbridges. The proposed new line would run dangerously close to the pillar of the six-lane road overbridge at Vandalur station. The distance between the track centre and permanent structures must be 2.36 m according to railway safety guidelines. In two separate incidents in July 2018, seven footboard passengers were killed after colliding with the concrete wall abutting the third line at St Thomas Mount station. Delays in land acquisition also contributed to the project's slow progress. On October 30, 2020, the 11 km new line between Guduvancheri and Singaperumalkoil was completed and opened. On March 6, the Commissioner of Railway Safety approved the 8 km track between Singaperumalkoil and Chengalpattu for operation. In addition to speeding up express trains, the new line will make it easier to expand suburban services during rush hours. Tambaram and Chengalpattu is served by 23 daily express specials and seven weekly specials. The Tiruchy - Chennai Egmore Cholan Special takes 38 minutes, while the Puducherry and Chennai Egmore Special takes 33 minutes. On September 12 and 19, the railways cancelled services in the Chennai-Chengalpattu section to allow for engineering maintenance. Image Source Also read: Karnataka may revive plans to link high speed rail to B’luru airport