Track doubling work between Aduthurai and Sundaraperumal Koil via Kumbakonam is expected to commence in January 2027 as the Southern Railway Construction Organisation has floated tender for its execution days after the Railway Board, New Delhi, accorded sanction for this multi-crore project.
The Southern Railway Construction Organisation, Chennai, has issued a Request for Proposal for the construction of the double line as well as for the design, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of Overhead Head Equipment (OHE) on the 21.5-km broad gauge stretch between Aduthurai and Sundaraperumal Koil under the Tiruchi Railway Division.
The Request for Proposal was issued a few days ago to invite and identify the agencies for executing the project. The Railway Board had given its nod on October 1 for the project and asked the Southern Railway Construction Organisation, Chennai, to execute it. The project was sanctioned under the umbrella work of doubling/tripling/quadrupling/multitracking to augment the railway capacity network. It is to be executed in connection with the 10-day Mahamaham festival being celebrated at Kumbakonam from February 29 to March 9, 2028.
The project involves construction of a major bridge across the Arasalar adjacent to the existing bridge near Kumbakonam. Extension of 61 minor culverts along the stretch forms part of the project.
The OHE works would be carried out parallel to other works, railway sources told The Hindu. The existing platforms would be widened and a new loop line would be introduced in Aduthurai and Sundaraperumal Koil — both of which are block stations.
As the project required acquisition of nine hectares of land, the relevant documents were under the final stage of preparation. It would be submitted to the State government before this month. The Southern Railway Construction Organisation has planned to complete the project in one year from the time of its commencement, the sources said.
Track doubling would enable the Southern Railway to operate additional trains to and from Kumbakonam in connection with the Mahamaham festival which is expected to attract a large number of devotees.
A mega project of redeveloping the Kumbakonam railway station at a cost of ₹99.8 crore is on for the Mahamaham festival. It is also being executed by the Southern Railway Construction Organisation.
Published – October 21, 2026 04:49 pm IST
