Southern Railways’ Chennai Division achieved a historic milestone in Fiscal 2026-27 by surpassing the ₹5,000 crore earnings mark for the first time.The division recorded total earnings of ₹5,038.30 crores in FY26, thus registering a 9 per cent growth over the previous year, said Shailendra Singh, Divisional Railway Manager, Chennai Division, Southern Railway.The division in FY26 carried 432.98 million passengers and achieved a freight loading of 11.33 million tonnes (a 6 per cent increase). Despite the heavy traffic, the division maintained an 87 punctuality rate for Mail/Express trains, operating 3,559 special trains and attaching 1,557 extra coaches to ensure passenger convenience during extra rush periods, he said in a press release.On the Kilambakkam Railway station, Singh said the State government had deposited ₹21 crores to create a new halt station at Kilambakkam. Platform 1 is complete, Platforms 2 & 3 are nearing completion.Skywalk work is under progress, which is executed by CMDA. The balance work in the Railway premises is expected to be completed by October 2026.On the 67.79 km Chengalpattu–Arakkonam doubling project, Singh said with a total project cost of ₹926.52 crore, this is a major capacity augmentation initiative of Chennai Division.The project will double the existing single broad-gauge line over 67.79 km and will contribute to the creation of a 192-km circular suburban rail grid connecting Chennai Beach–Tambaram-Chengalpattu–Arakkonam–Avadi–Chennai Beach.Doubling of the line is expected to increase the capacity from 13 trains per day to up to 50 trains per day. The line will be fully electrified, equipped with Standard-IV interlocking and designed for speeds of up to 160 kmph, he said.The Chengalpattu–Arakkonam doubling project, with a total project cost of ₹926.52 crore, is a major capacity augmentation initiative of Chennai Division of Southern Railway.The project will double the existing single broad-gauge line over 67.79 km and will contribute to the creation of a 192-km circular suburban rail grid connecting Chennai Beach–TambaramChengalpattu–Arakkonam–Avadi–Chennai Beach.Doubling of the line is expected to increase the capacity from 13 trains per day to up to 50 trains per day. The line will be fully electrified, equipped with Standard-IV interlocking and designed for speeds of up to 160 kmph, he said.The capacity augmentation project for the construction of a 03rd and 04th railway line between Attipattu and Gummidipundi (22.52 km), has been sanctioned at a total cost of ₹365.42 crores.This project involves the installation of new signaling systems at four crossing stations (Attipattu, Minjur, Ponneri & Gummidipundi) and three halt stations (Nandiyampakkam, Anuppampattu & Kavaraipettai), the construction of 6 major and 48 minor bridges, he said.Published on August 15, 2026