The construction of the Madurai-Thoothukudi broad gauge line, which includes the crucial Melmarudur-Tiruparankundram project, is currently under careful review. This update comes from Southern Railway's assistant public information officer, J Kumarasubramanian, following an RTI inquiry made by a concerned citizen, Dayanand Krishnan. The new broad gauge line is projected to cover a total length of 143.5 km, with the initial 18 km stretch between Milavittan and Melmarudur completed and sanctioned by the Commission of Railway Safety on March 8, 2022.
While substantial progress has been made on this segment, the remaining stretches from Melmarudur to Tiruparankundram are still facing delays primarily due to ongoing land acquisition efforts. In response to queries about a potential freeze on the project, railway officials confirmed that they had not received any communication to halt work, indicating that land acquisition efforts are actively proceeding.
Union representatives, including R Sankara Narayanan from the Dakshin Railway Employees Union, have expressed optimism regarding the project’s continuation, citing the completed Milavittan-Melmarudur stretch as a positive sign. However, concerns about funding have been raised, with Narayanan noting that the Rs 100 crore allocated by the central government may be insufficient to cover compensation for landowners, especially given the rising land values.
He emphasized that adequate funding is critical not only for fair compensation but also for the overall completion of the project, which promises to enhance connectivity for residents of Arupukottai and Vilathikulam, who currently lack direct long-route train services. Completing this railway line would facilitate freight movement, allowing local products from areas like Coimbatore and Krishnagiri to be exported more efficiently through Thoothukudi.
Former Divisional Rail Users Consultative Committee member R Pandiyaraja highlighted that the project has seen nearly eight years since the initial tender was floated in 2016, yet it remains incomplete. He underscored the need for a more substantial financial commitment from the railway authorities to meet the project’s requirements and urged all stakeholders to collaborate for its swift completion before 2030.
