Speaking to the media after visiting the Tata Electronics iPhone manufacturing plant, the Minister emphasized the development of this terminal to provide optimal logistical solutions for the local industry. Funding has been approved for a Detailed Project Report on the doubling of the Hosur-Omalur-Salem railway line, the minister said.
Addressing a long-standing demand, Minister Vaishnaw acknowledged challenges in the proposed Hosur-Jholarpet line, citing concerns about tunnel length and cost escalation. He assured that efforts are underway to find a cost-efficient solution to overcome the survey-related issues affecting tunnel length and cost.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to railway development, Minister Vaishnaw shared statistics, noting that the budgetary allocation for railways increased significantly after 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He mentioned that the allocation for Tamil Nadu also witnessed a substantial rise, reaching ₹6,080 crore compared to ₹879 crore before 2014. The Minister claimed an addition of over 5,200 km of new tracks to the railway network in the previous year.
Focusing on infrastructure improvement, Minister Vaishnaw revealed plans to redevelop 75 railway stations in Tamil Nadu to a “world-class level.” Specifically, Krishnagiri, Samalpatty, and Hosur stations are targeted for transformation into world-class facilities.
Addressing the need for enhanced Hosur-Bengaluru railway connectivity, the Minister outlined the first objective of converting existing lines into double and four-lane tracks. He mentioned ongoing redevelopment work in Hosur, including yard remodeling and the addition of extra lines, with the expectation that increased capacity will facilitate the introduction of more trains in the future.
