Chennai, February 8: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting immediate intervention to expedite long-delayed railway projects in the state. He highlighted issues such as delays in fund allocation and land acquisition hurdles that have slowed down critical infrastructure development.
In his letter, Stalin noted that the state has already completed most of the foundational work necessary for railway expansion. However, the projects are facing obstacles due to the “delayed and fragmented” release of funds from the Ministry of Railways.
The Chief Minister urged the central government to release the required funds in full and on a priority basis to ensure timely completion of the projects and compensation for landowners.
He mentioned that administrative approval for land acquisition of 2,500 hectares for various central railway projects has already been granted. Approximately 94 percent of the land acquisition for 19 major projects has been completed and handed over to the railway authorities.
However, funding for over 931 hectares of land has yet to be approved, causing significant delays in multiple projects. Stalin pointed out that the delay in compensating landowners has disrupted project progress and created uncertainty for affected families.
He cited the example of the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari broad-gauge doubling project, where ₹289.78 crore for land compensation remains pending, halting the project’s progress.
Stalin also called for the resumption of stalled projects, such as the Tuticorin-Madurai (Aruppukottai route) line and the Tindivanam-Thiruvannamalai line.
Additionally, he urged the approval of new railway projects, considering Tamil Nadu’s economic situation. The Chief Minister emphasized that Tamil Nadu is India’s second-largest economy and a major manufacturing and export hub, stating that improved rail connectivity would bolster national development.
He expressed confidence that the state government has established a robust monitoring system and has been fully cooperative for rapid implementation. Stalin asserted that timely support from the central government would benefit both Tamil Nadu and the entire nation.