Tamil Nadu alone has 69 stations currently being modernised under this scheme. These include major hubs such as Chennai Egmore, Chennai Beach, Coimbatore Junction, Madurai Junction, and Tiruchendur, among others.
Chennai Egmore railway station, an iconic terminal built in Indo-Saracenic style, is receiving a makeover estimated at Rs 842 crore. Constructed between 1905 and 1908 by the South Indian Railway at a cost of Rs 17 lakh, the station has a rich history and architectural significance. Designed by Henry Irwin and CH Bird, its original structure includes a 500-foot-long main building and several platforms connected by a footbridge.
The station is a critical junction managed by the Chennai Division of Southern Railway and handles more than 562 scheduled daily trains, including 442 suburban and 120 mail/express trains, with a peak hour footfall exceeding 24,600 passengers.
The redevelopment project features two new terminals—one on Gandhi Irwin Road side and another on Poonamallee High Road side. These will be G+3 structures offering modern amenities such as waiting lounges, ticketing areas, commercial zones, and roof plazas.
Additional facilities include separate entry and exit points, a parcel foot overbridge, multiple lifts and escalators, and multi-level car parking on both sides of the station. There will also be a proposed G+5 structure incorporating commercial spaces, parking for cars and two-wheelers, and a budget hotel.
This comprehensive upgrade aims to transform Chennai Egmore into a world-class railway terminus befitting its historic status and operational importance.
