Madurai-Thoothukudi New Railway Line Scrapped? Here's What Railway Minister Says

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday clarified the confusion surrounding his comments on the Madurai-Thoothukudi new railway line project, which had sparked a heated exchange between the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre.

Ashwini Vaishnaw's Statement

While addressing the press at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai on January 10, Vaishnaw was questioned about various railway projects in Tamil Nadu. His response mistakenly suggested opposition from the State government to the Madurai-Thoothukudi railway project. The Railway Ministry later clarified that the Minister misheard the query due to background noise and had instead responded about the Dhanushkodi railway line project, which the Tamil Nadu government opposed due to environmental concerns.

The Tamil Nadu government reacted strongly, citing multiple letters urging the Union government to expedite the Madurai-Thoothukudi project. In response, Vaishnaw issued a categorical clarification, stating there were no land-related issues from the Tamil Nadu government regarding the project. He attributed the confusion to the noisy environment and the volume of questions posed about pan-India railway matters.

Annamalai Slams DMK Govt

However, Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annamalai criticized the DMK government for allegedly hindering the project's progress. He claimed that the State government's sluggish land acquisition process was to blame, stating only 26% of the required 3,389 hectares for various railway projects in Tamil Nadu had been acquired.

Annamalai also highlighted the specific case of the Madurai-Tuticorin (via Aruppukkottai) line, asserting that just 74.87 hectares of the 870.98 hectares needed had been acquired. He accused the DMK government of obstructing economic development and announced a protest in Virudhunagar district on January 20, 2025.

The controversy underscores the political friction between the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government and the BJP, with each side trading accusations over the handling of crucial infrastructure projects.