Madurai-Tuticorin ,Tuticorin-Milavittan and Milavittan-Melmarudur New Railway Line
Madurai Tuticorin New Railway Line
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO 1893
ANSWERED ON 28.12.2025
Madurai Tuticorin rail line
1893 Smt. Sasikala Pushpa Ramaswamy
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether Government has completed the process of acquiring of land for new rail line project, Madurai-Tuticorin via Aruppukottai in the State of Tamil Nadu;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether Government has fixed any time-frame to complete the new rail line project of Madurai-Tuticorin via Aruppukottai;
(d) if so, details thereof; and
(e) if not, reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a) to (e): On Madurai-Tuticorin new line project ( 143.5 Km), Tuticorin-Milavittan is an existing broad gauge line and thus, take off point is Milavittan station. So far, 184.92 acre land for Milavittan-Melmarudur section (18 Km) has been acquired in October, 2018.
Land acquisition documents for balance section (125.5 Km) have been submitted to State Government of Tamil Nadu.
Execution/completion of this project depends on acquisition of land and shifting of various utility services etc. Therefore, it is not feasible to give fixed time line for completion of this project.
Here’s the current status of the Madurai–Tuticorin new broad-gauge railway line via Aruppukottai, involving the Milavittan–Melmarudur and Melmarudur–Tiruparankundram sections:
Contents
Project Overview
- Intended to span 143.5 km, this line would connect underserved areas in southern Tamil Nadu and boost freight movement from Tuticorin Port.
⏯ Progress Made
- 18 km of track between Milavittan and Melmarudur was completed and commissioned by the Commission of Railway Safety in March 2025.
⏸ Stalled Sections & Challenges
- Multiple legal and administrative roadblocks, particularly land acquisition delays in Madurai, Virudhunagar, and Thoothukudi districts.
- The land acquisition office in Madurai was disbanded as of early 2025, halting progress.
- Southern Railway initially proposed freezing the remaining works due to assessments of low freight prospects, despite economic viability estimates (EIRR ~21%).
Recent Developments & Political Response
- Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated the project was shelved, citing alleged state opposition, but the Tamil Nadu government denied this, affirming continued support and requests for funding.
- The Union Budget 2025 allocated ₹55 crore to revive the project—but activists question if it’s sufficient, especially for crucial land acquisition work.
Ongoing Advocacy
- Virudhunagar MP has petitioned the Prime Minister to revive the project, de-freeze funds (₹55.16 crore), reinstate unpaid staff, and resume execution.
Status Summary
| Section | Status |
|---|---|
| Milavittan–Melmarudur | Completed (18 km; CRS-approved in March 2025) |
| Remaining Route (≈125 km) | Pending due to land acquisition and funding gaps |
| Project Status | Under review; partially frozen by rail zone |
| Funding Allocation | ₹55 cr allocated in 2025, pending implementation |
| Political Stance | State backs project; Centre’s position unclear |
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