Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, V Somanna, announced on Friday that discussions are underway to develop a new railway station at Parandur, where Chennai’s proposed greenfield airport is set to come up. The move is part of broader efforts to enhance multimodal connectivity to the upcoming airport and boost regional infrastructure.
Minister Somanna is on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, during which he conducted a window trailing inspection along the Chennai-Arakkonam-Kancheepuram railway section. Accompanied by the Divisional Railway Manager of Chennai, he reviewed critical safety and operational aspects of the route and inspected amenities at the Kancheepuram station.
At Kancheepuram, in response to local demands, Somanna directed railway officials to conduct a feasibility study for constructing a limited-use subway to ease commuter challenges caused by a level crossing in the area. This is seen as part of the government’s efforts to enhance last-mile rail connectivity in the region.
When asked specifically about the new Parandur railway station, the minister confirmed that discussions were ongoing but did not provide a timeline. He declined to comment in detail on the issue of rising train fares, stating his visit primarily focused on marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency declaration in 1975.
