Tamil Nadu Transport Minister Strongly Rejects Railway Minister's Allegations
In a sharp rebuttal to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's accusations, Tamil Nadu Transport Minister S S Sivasankar has firmly denied that the state government is responsible for delays in central railway projects through slow land acquisition. Speaking at a press conference in Trichy on Tuesday, Sivasankar categorically stated that Tamil Nadu has never requested the abandonment of any railway initiatives and has instead been actively expediting land acquisition processes.
Funding Issues and Lack of Response Cited as Primary Causes
The minister attributed project delays primarily to the railways' failure to release necessary funds and their lack of response to repeated state requests. He specifically addressed claims regarding the Madurai–Thoothukudi (via Aruppukkottai) broad gauge railway line, terming as "false and contrary to facts" any suggestion that Tamil Nadu sought its cancellation.
"Tamil Nadu government has never made any such statement. On the contrary, we have consistently and repeatedly urged speedy implementation and execution of this project," Sivasankar asserted emphatically.
Documented Efforts and Administrative Actions
Sivasankar detailed the state's proactive measures, noting that the transport department issued administrative sanctions for the Madurai–Thoothukudi project based on the Land Plan Schedule supplied by the railways. He revealed that Chief Minister M K Stalin personally wrote to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on August 19, 2024, requesting adequate fund allocation for the project.
Furthermore, district collectors from Virudhunagar, Madurai, and Thoothukudi sent follow-up letters to Southern Railway demanding proper financial allocation, yet received no reply. "Does the Union Railway Minister even know the details of those letters?" Sivasankar questioned pointedly.
Project Status and Southern Railway's Position
When the state sought a current status and financial report on Tamil Nadu railway projects from Southern Railway's General Manager, the deputy chief engineer responded that work on the Madurai–Thoothukudi broad gauge line had been completed up to Melamarudur (18km), but the remaining sections were abandoned by Southern Railway citing 'low freight prospects.'
Land Acquisition Progress and Government Cooperation
Regarding government poramboke (wasteland) lands needed for railway lines, Sivasankar clarified that there are no obstacles to project execution. "Government orders are issued from time to time, and government lands are handed over to railways accordingly," he stated, emphasizing the state's cooperation.
Since May 2021, Tamil Nadu has prioritized expediting long-pending railway projects announced by the Union government. In the past five years, administrative sanctions were granted for seven projects based on LPS provided by railways, with acquisition work actively progressing.
Substantial Land Acquisition Achievements
Sivasankar highlighted that nearly 100% land acquisition has been completed for several key projects, including:
- Tindivanam-Nagari railway line
- Madurai-Thoothukudi (Phase I) project
- Maniyachi-Nagercoil railway section
- Various doubling lines across the state
He specifically noted that delays in projects such as Tindivanam-Tiruvannamalai arise "solely from non-release of funds by railways," reinforcing his argument that financial constraints from the central government, not state inefficiency, are hindering progress.
