Tambaram railway station upgrade set for ₹890-crore makeover

Tambaram railway station upgrade plans in Chennai are advancing as a ₹890-crore redevelopment that is intended to reshape the station into a modern transit hub.

The Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) recently held a stakeholder meeting to discuss the set of works proposed under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode, as reported by The Times of India.

Sources said tenders are expected to be floated soon, with completion scheduled in three years. Under the makeover, peak-hour capacity is expected to move from 13,500 to 28,750. The plan also includes the tracks increase to 16 from 12 and the addition of three new platforms, according to ETInfra.

Tambaram railway station upgrade: capacity, tracks and platforms

Some parts of the Tambaram railway station redevelopment are already in progress. Railways is already constructing a platform that passengers can access directly from the entrance to the east, without using foot overbridges and escalators.

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An official said the redevelopment fits into a broader modernisation programme, similar to Egmore. Once completed, Tambaram’s handling capacity is expected to be bigger than Egmore’s because Egmore has space restrictions, while space is available in Tambaram. The official also said more express trains are planned from Tambaram itself in future, which is why the redevelopment is seen as crucial.

RLDA station redevelopment PPP includes concourse and facades

Alongside the capacity works, the RLDA station redevelopment PPP plan includes additional foot overbridges, a concourse at the first level, and new facades for both the east and west sides of the station. The PPP approach used for railway station redevelopment is reflected in the Government of India’s PPP in India database, which lists RLDA-led station projects under PPP frameworks.

Local feedback on Tambaram railway station redevelopment priorities

City-based transport activist Dayanand Krishnan said Tambaram handles at least 3.4 crore passengers a year and needs more passenger amenities. He said RLDA’s proposed plan focuses heavily on employees’ quarters and cargo handling capacity, while the station needs better accessibility, parking lots and a concourse for passengers to wait. He also noted that RLDA proposed an air concourse at Rani Kamlapati Railway Station (RKMP) in Bhopal, but not for Tambaram.

P Viswanathan, convenor of the coordination committee of Chitlapakkam residents’ welfare associations, said the vast expanse of land available at Tambaram railway station should be put to better use during the redevelopment.

Railway officials maintained that RLDA’s proposed plan is not final and will undergo changes with inputs from all stakeholders, including state agencies. Officials also said Avadi and Coimbatore could get similar makeovers, though there are no firm plans yet.

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