After over a year of deliberations, the Railway Board is reportedly giving serious consideration to Southern Railway's long-pending proposal for the expansion of the Attipattu-Gummidipoondi rail line with additional tracks. 

This crucial 22.52 km stretch in the Chennai Division is a vital artery for both suburban commuters and freight operations, linking the high-density Delhi-Chennai and Chennai-Bengaluru corridors, as well as significant industrial and port facilities.

The proposal, estimated to cost Rs 365.42 crore, seeks to lay third and fourth railway lines between Attipattu and Gummidipoondi. 

This development is seen as essential to relieve the severe congestion currently plaguing this section, which connects key hubs such as the Ennore and Kamarajar ports, the SIPCOT Industrial Park, and the North Chennai Thermal Power Stations.

The urgency of the expansion is underlined by current capacity utilization. The Attipattu-Gummidipoondi section is already operating at full capacity, with projections indicating it will exceed 107 percent utilization by 2027-28. 

This necessitates immediate action to avoid further bottlenecks and ensure smooth train movements.