Survey begins for doubling of tracks on the route between Arakkonam and Chengalpattu

Southern Railway begins survey for track doubling from Chengalpattu to Arakkonam, easing rail traffic and improving suburban services.

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In a major development for rail users taking the Kancheepuram and Thirumalpur route, the Southern Railway has begun a survey for doubling the tracks from Chengalpattu to Arakkonam via Takkolam.

The track doubling will help ease rail traffic, and create a dedicated corridor for operating direct suburban train services from Arakkonam to Chengalpattu, avoiding the need for circular route via Beach. 

M. Senthamil Selvan, Chief Public Relations officer of Southern Railway, said the Final Location Survey (FLS) for the project had been approved for the Chengalpattu-Arakkonam corridor via Kancheepuram and Thirumalpur.  A branching track has been planned to link Palur-Paranur bypass. At present, the Chengalpattu to Arakkonam route, has only one track with nine railway stations. 

Some stations are Reddipalayam, Villiambakkam, Palur, Palayasivaram, Walajabad, Nathapettai, Old Kancheepuram and Kancheepuram.

Kancheepuram junction serves as the freight hub for transporting not only industrial finished goods from Walajabad, but also agricultural and food materials.

The suburban train services operated by the Chennai Division from Beach to Chengalpattu via Tambaram, which includes the Thirumalpur section, sees a patronage of more than 10 lakh people every day, with over one lakh commuters travelling to Thirumalpur.