The Railway Board has sanctioned the expansion of a third and fourth line from Athipattu to Gummidipoondi on the north section of the Chennai suburban railway. This project is expected to significantly boost freight revenue by accommodating increased freight traffic in the industrial belt and will also help a large workforce commute to their factories more efficiently.
Senior railway officials said the Railway Board has sanctioned ₹374.30 crore for the expansion of a 47-km stretch between Athipattu and Gummidipoondi. This section, which falls under the Chennai-Gudur corridor of the northeast line, is expected to not only boost freight loading capacity by 8.71 million tonnes per annum but also facilitate faster movement of steel, foodgrains, petrochemicals, fertilisers, cement, and automobiles from factories located in both the southern and northern parts of Chennai.
The expansion would also benefit suburban commuters as well as mail and express passengers, as the fourth line expansion from Egmore to Beach has created dedicated corridors for slow and fast trains.
North Chennai residents to benefit
Among the suburban train services operated by Southern Railway, residents of north Chennai are served by the fewest trains, despite the majority of the population living in economically disadvantaged conditions.
