Madurai and Coimbatore Metro Corridor proposal rejected, Center returns DPR, know the reason

Chennai: The DMK government’s plans to build a metro rail network in Coimbatore and Madurai have suffered a major setback. The central government has returned the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of both the projects saying that these cities do not meet the population criteria under the National Metro Rail Policy, 2017. The Tamil Nadu government had prepared DPR for the proposal of two metro corridors for Coimbatore and one for Madurai and sent them to the Central Government for approval because metro projects are jointly implemented by both the governments.

Why did you return the DPR?

In a letter sent to the state government on November 14, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs said the two cities do not qualify for the metro network and asked the administration to find other modes of transport, Deccan Herald reported. The communication said that as of 2011 census, Madurai had a population of 15 lakh and Coimbatore had a population of 15.84 lakh. According to the National Metro Rail Policy, 2021, to qualify for the metro rail network, the city must have a population of at least 20 lakh.

Government sources have confirmed receiving the letter from the Centre. A government official said, “We are studying.” Although the population of both the cities will be more than 20 lakh in 2025, the Center will count only the population data of 2011 as the decennial census has not been conducted since 2020. The ministry said that metro projects are expensive and they should be planned for long term.

DMK can make it a political issue

The return of the DPRs by the Center is going to create a political controversy as the DMK was very keen on the two projects which are likely to change the face of Madurai and Coimbatore. The DMK had put pressure on the Center to approve the second phase of the Chennai Metro Rail Project in 2024, which the state government was building using its own resources. The DMK had then accused the BJP of ignoring Tamil Nadu as the state does not vote for the saffron party. Let us tell you that the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are just a few months away, so DMK can use this step for its political benefit.

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