Delay in land acquisition holding up important infrastructure projects in T.N., says Railway Minister

The execution of vital infrastructure tasks both fully or partly in Tamil Nadu have been “held up as a consequence of delay in land acquisition,” Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw mentioned within the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Whereas about 4,315 hectares of land was required for tasks in Tamil Nadu, about 1,038 hectares (24%) of land has been acquired and three,277 hectares (76%) of land was but to be acquired, the Minister mentioned, in his reply to DMK MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian.

“Help of the Authorities of Tamil Nadu is required to expedite the land acquisition,” the Minister mentioned. Some main tasks which have been delayed as a consequence of land acquisition, included Tindivanam – Tiruvannamalai new line, Attiputtu – Puttur new line, Morappur – Dharmapuri, Mannargudi – Pattukkottai, Thanjavur – Pattukkottai strains, amongst others.

“The Authorities of India is geared as much as execute tasks, nevertheless success relies upon upon the assist of the Authorities of Tamil Nadu. Land is acquired for railway tasks via the State authorities which decides the compensation quantity to be paid,” the Minister mentioned.

Ms. Thangapandian had requested whether or not the Union authorities offered enough funds for the land acquisition course of to expedite long-pending railway tasks in Tamil Nadu. “As on April 1, 2025, 15 tasks — 9 new line, three gauge conversion and three doubling — overlaying a complete size of 1,700 km, costing ₹22,808 crore, falling absolutely/partly in Tamil Nadu, had been sanctioned,” he mentioned. Of those, tasks overlaying a size of 665 km have been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹7,591 crore incurred as much as March 2025, the Minister mentioned.