Page 44 - Construction_Opportunities_March_2026

TICKER TAPE
INFRASTRUCTURE MRTS EXTENSION BETWEEN VELACHERY AND ST. THOMAS The government recently approved a `132.51 crore road over
GOVERNMENT APPROVES `132.51 CRORE ROAD OVER
BRIDGE PROJECT AT DEENDAYAL PORT.
MOUNT TO START
Southern Railway has received the Provisional Authorisation
bridge (ROB) project at Deendayal Port, aimed at improving cargo
Certificate from the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS)
for commissioning the Velachery–St. Thomas Mount Phase-II
movement and reducing congestion at the port. The proposal
was cleared by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports,
section of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS).
Following the authorisation, services on the extended stretch will
Shipping and Waterways. The ROB will be constructed at level
commence from March 14, the Chennai Division of Southern
Railway said. The new timetable will include 43 pairs of services
of efforts to strengthen port connectivity. The project falls under
the government’s flagship Sagarmala Programme and aligns with
between Chennai Beach railway station and St. Thomas Mount crossing 235 by Western Railway on a deposit basis, forming part
railway station, two pairs between Chennai Beach and Velachery the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which aims to enhance
railway station, and three pairs of services between St. Thomas multi-modal logistics and transport efficiency.
Mount and Velachery. The proposal was reviewed by the Delegated Investment Board to
According to Southern Railway, the extension will provide direct assess the revised cost and ensure compliance with safety and
connectivity across the MRTS corridor and offer a more seamless technical standards. Sonowal said the ROB will remove critical
suburban rail travel experience for commuters. bottlenecks, improve cargo movement, and strengthen India’s
logistics efficiency. “We are building integrated infrastructure that
GOVERNMENT APPROVES `283 CRORE FOR DIMAPUR accelerates trade, enhances safety, and supports economic
STATION MODERNISATION. growth,” he added.
The Central government has approved `283 crore for the According to the ministry, the ROB will enable uninterrupted
modernisation of the historic Dimapur railway station in Nagaland, movement across the rail crossing, currently a constraint for cargo
a key rail hub in the Northeast, state Health and Family Welfare evacuation. Once completed, the project is expected to reduce
Minister P. Pawang Konyak told the Assembly recently. congestion, speed up cargo handling, and improve operational
Speaking during a discussion on the station’s status, Konyak efficiency at the port, while supporting the broader maritime
highlighted that Dimapur remains the second highest revenue- logistics network.
earning railway station in the Northeast. He added that both the The ministry has also directed all major ports to map their projects
concerned department and landowners have written to the on the PM Gati Shakti portal to enhance coordination and
Ministry of Railways seeking compensation, and are currently accelerate infrastructure development nationwide.
awaiting a response.
Dimapur, Nagaland’s main commercial city, is located about RAIL CONNECTIVITY BOOST: `4,474-CRORE
70 km from the state capital, Kohima. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio MULTITRACKING PROJECTS GREENLIT IN EAST INDIA.
emphasised the need for an amicable settlement of land-related The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) recently
issues to ensure the modernisation project proceeds smoothly. approved two major railway multitracking projects in West Bengal
In his remarks, Chief Minister Rio noted that the Dimapur Railway and Jharkhand, with an estimated cost of `4,474 crore.
Station, inaugurated in 1903, predates the formation of Nagaland The projects involve constructing a fourth railway line on the
as a state in 1963. At the time, certain constitutional provisions Sainthia–Pakur and Santragachi–Kharagpur sections. Scheduled
regarding land ownership did not exist, and railway authorities for completion by 2030–31, the works will add approximately 192
had occupied land for railway purposes long before the state km to Indian Railways’ existing network.
came into existence. Over the years, encroachments increased, The additional lines are expected to increase capacity on existing
and some were regularised, complicating the current situation. routes, ease congestion, and improve operational efficiency and
Chief Minister Rio called for constructive dialogue between the service reliability. The projects will cover five districts across West
state government and Indian Railways to reach an amicable Bengal and Jharkhand, strengthening regional rail connectivity
solution, particularly regarding compensation for landowners, and potentially benefiting around 5,652 villages with a combined
while cautioning that demands should not be excessively high. population of about 14.7 million.
During the discussion, National People’s Party MLA Nuklutoshi The routes are vital for transporting commodities such as coal,
highlighted long-standing negligence by various stakeholders, stone, dolomite, cement, slag, gypsum, iron and steel, foodgrains,
noting that the Northeast Frontier Railway remained silent for years and petroleum products. The capacity expansion is expected to
as illegal constructions emerged on railway land. He outlined enable an additional 31 million tonnes of freight traffic annually.
three possible options for resolving land issues: compensation for Planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the
resettlement, forceful eviction, or relocating the station. projects aim to improve multimodal connectivity and logistics
MLA Nuklutoshi added that while new railway expansion projects efficiency. The government said the increased rail freight could
towards Kohima and other areas are planned, those stations reduce logistics costs and fuel consumption, potentially cutting oil
would be smaller, and Dimapur will continue to serve as the state’s imports by 60 million litres and lowering carbon dioxide emissions
main railway station. by 280 million kilograms.
The modernisation project of Dimapur railway station is expected These projects represent a significant step toward modernizing
to upgrade facilities, improve infrastructure, and reinforce its role India’s railway network while supporting sustainable and efficient
as a critical rail hub for Nagaland and the Northeast region. transport solutions.

44 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|MARCH 2026