Railway Minister Counters Tamil Nadu CM's Allegations Over Project Delays
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has firmly rejected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's accusations that railway projects in the state are being delayed due to the non-release of funds by the Union government. In a series of posts on X, Vaishnaw reiterated that the key delaying factor is land acquisition by the state government, not financial constraints from the Centre.
Funding Allocation and Project Sanctions
Vaishnaw dismissed the charge that the Union government is not sanctioning new railway projects to Tamil Nadu. He highlighted that the budget allocation to Tamil Nadu has increased more than 8.5 times since 2014, reaching ₹7,611 crore in 2026–27. The minister emphasized that the Centre continues to sanction new lines, doublings, and additional tracks in the state.
This response came after Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, seeking allotment of funds to expedite land acquisition for railway projects. Stalin refuted Vaishnaw's earlier statement that land acquisition was slow in Tamil Nadu, arguing that non-allocation of funds was the reason for the delay. He also requested new railway projects for the state.
Land Acquisition Statistics and Specific Project Delays
Vaishnaw provided detailed statistics to support his claims. For ongoing railway projects in Tamil Nadu, only 24% of the required land has been handed over so far—1,052 hectares out of a total requirement of 4,326 hectares. He pointed out specific delays:
- 91% land acquisition is pending for the 144-km Madurai–Thoothukudi line via Aruppukkottai.
- 86% land acquisition is pending for the 71.33-km Tindivanam–Gingee–Tiruvannamalai line.
Stalin had blamed the delay on issuing revised land plan schedules (LPS) and stated that administrative sanction for land acquisition for these two projects will be issued shortly. For the Rameswaram–Dhanushkodi new line project, Vaishnaw said land acquisition has not begun "due to a lack of cooperation from the Tamil Nadu government."
New Projects and Infrastructure Developments
Despite the disputes, Vaishnaw outlined several new projects sanctioned by the Centre, including:
- Chennai Beach–Egmore 4.3-km fourth line.
- Tambaram–Chengalpattu 30-km fourth line.
Detailed project reports have been prepared for additional projects such as Salem–Karur–Dindigul, Thanjavur–Karaikal, and Arakkonam–Chengalpattu line doubling projects. Furthermore, 77 stations in Tamil Nadu were identified for Amrit Bharat redevelopment, with work completed at 18 stations.
Vaishnaw also highlighted infrastructure achievements since 2014:
- 1,350 km of tracks built.
- 97% electrification completed across 2,386 km.
- Nine pairs each of Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat services operational in the state.
The Centre has paid ₹1,465 crore to the Tamil Nadu government towards land acquisition, but the handover of land remains pending. Vaishnaw asserted, "Projects are not stalled due to lack of funds. Such a claim is baseless." This ongoing debate underscores the complexities in executing large-scale infrastructure projects amid political and administrative challenges.
