Southern Railway’s Chennai Division Crosses Rs 5,000 Crore Earnings Milestone in FY26

Southern Railway’s Chennai Division has crossed the Rs 5,000 crore earnings mark for the first time, recording total earnings of Rs 5,038.30 crore in FY26, a 9 percent increase over the previous year, according to Divisional Railway Manager Shailendra Singh.

How did passenger and freight volumes perform during the year?

The division carried 432.98 million passengers in FY26 and achieved freight loading of 11.33 million tonnes, marking a 6 percent increase. Despite the heavy traffic load, the division maintained an 87 percent punctuality rate for Mail and Express trains, while operating 3,559 special trains and attaching 1,557 extra coaches to manage passenger convenience during periods of peak demand.

What is the status of the new Kilambakkam railway station?

On the Kilambakkam railway station project, Singh said the Tamil Nadu government has deposited Rs 21 crore to develop a new halt station at the site. Platform 1 has been completed, while Platforms 2 and 3 are nearing completion. Skywalk work, being executed by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, is in progress, with the balance work within railway premises expected to be completed by October 2026.

What does the Chengalpattu-Arakkonam doubling project involve?

The Chengalpattu-Arakkonam doubling project, with a total cost of Rs 926.52 crore, is a major capacity augmentation initiative for the Chennai Division. The project will double the existing single broad-gauge line over 67.79 km and contribute to the creation of a 192 km circular suburban rail grid connecting Chennai Beach, Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Arakkonam, Avadi and back to Chennai Beach. Doubling the line is expected to raise capacity from 13 trains per day to up to 50 trains per day, with the route fully electrified, equipped with Standard-IV interlocking and designed for speeds of up to 160 kmph.

What other capacity augmentation work is underway?

A separate project for the construction of a third and fourth railway line between Attipattu and Gummidipundi, spanning 22.52 km, has been sanctioned at a total cost of Rs 365.42 crore. The project involves installation of new signalling systems at four crossing stations, Attipattu, Minjur, Ponneri and Gummidipundi, and three halt stations, Nandiyampakkam, Anuppampattu and Kavaraipettai, along with construction of six major and 48 minor bridges.

What does this mean for Chennai Division’s broader growth trajectory?

The combination of record earnings, rising passenger and freight volumes, and multiple ongoing capacity augmentation projects points to sustained investment in Chennai Division’s rail infrastructure, positioning the division to handle growing suburban and freight traffic demand across Tamil Nadu’s rail network in the coming years.