Centre Rejects Madurai, Coimbatore Metro Rail Proposals Again
Rejection of the project proposals for the second time turned to be another setback to Tamil Nadu's plans to expand metro connectivity beyond Chennai
The Union government has rejected the proposed metro rail projects for Madurai and Coimbatore for the second time. The reasons cited for rejecting the proposal include inadequate population, low projected ridership and limited travel-time savings. Rejection of the project proposals for the second time turned to be another setback to Tamil Nadu's plans to expand metro connectivity beyond Chennai.
In a letter dated July 22 to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) said the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) submitted by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) failed to justify the need for metro rail systems in the two cities. The ministry instead suggested strengthening bus-based public transport as a more cost-effective alternative.
The Centre said both Madurai and Coimbatore have populations of around 15 lakh, well below the two million benchmark prescribed under the Metro Rail Policy, 2017. It also rejected the state's reliance on projected population estimates for 2022, stating that the 2011 Census figures should be the basis for assessment.
The Tamil Nadu government had proposed metro projects worth Rs 11,360 crore for Madurai and Rs 10,740 crore for Coimbatore. The Coimbatore project envisages a 39-km elevated corridor, while the Madurai proposal includes a 31.93-km network comprising elevated and underground sections.
The proposals were first returned by the Centre in November last year.