Mumbai, Nov. 5 -- Southern Railway has invited fresh tenders for constructing the third and fourth railway lines along the 23-km Athipattu-Gummidipundi section of the North Eastern suburban network. The revised project cost is Rs. 3.56 bn, an increase of Rs. 705.6 mn from the initial estimate of Rs. 2.86 bn issued in March. Official documents indicated that the earlier contract could not be finalised because the project cost was considered insufficient.

The project includes laying both lines, upgrading station infrastructure and executing general electrical and overhead electrification works. Utility shifting is also part of the contract. The selected contractor will be required to complete the works within 24 months of being awarded the contract.

The expansion is intended to reduce journey times on the Chennai-Gummidipundi route, which currently handles 84 suburban services and around 90,000 passengers a day. Although the railway's prescribed travel time is 85 minutes, trains take approximately 115 to 120 minutes to cover the 47.5-km stretch. A comparable 47-km journey between Chennai and Kadambattur takes about 70 to 75 minutes.

The Chennai-Athipattu-Gummidipundi-Gudur corridor is one of the country's busiest routes, carrying suburban and express trains as well as freight services. Heavy congestion frequently forces trains in both directions to wait for signals. Track utilisation between Athipattu and Gummidipundi has crossed 130 per cent, restricting additional services and making it difficult to reduce suburban halts while allowing express trains to pass.

The third and fourth lines were laid in phases between 2012 and 2023 along the 21-km stretch from Chennai Central to Athipattu. Passenger representatives said capacity on the remaining section had not kept pace with northern Chennai's population growth for nearly three decades, with suburban trains often held during peak periods for express and freight movements. A railway official indicated that work could start within three to four months after the tender process is completed.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.