Submit photo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi|Picture Credit: ANI
On the day that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to land in Coimbatore to take part in an organic farming top today, a debate has actually emerged over the Centre returning the city rail propositions for 2 big cities in the state – Coimbatore and Madurai. The factor offered by the Centre was that a 2011 Census revealed that both cities did not have actually the mandated 2 million population to validate a city job.
A number of individuals on social media pointed that the factor might not be premises enough to for decline the propositions for Coimbatore and Madurai. Both the cities would grow at a much faster rate in future and was worthy of a city rail, they argued. The rejection was a transfer to reduce the state’s advancement, they state.
The State federal government used up city rail systems for Madurai and Coimbatore as a single task, and the combined DPR was sent to the Centre in 2024. The DRP proposed a 31.9-km-long city rail in between Tirumangalam and Othakadai in Madurai at an expense of 11,300 crore. A 34.5-km-long task costing 10,700 crore was proposed for Coimbatore.
While a 2011 Census put Coimbatore’s population at 15.84 lakh and Madurai’s at 15 lakh, the Metro Rail Policy 2017 states that cities with a population of 2 million and more might begin preparing for public transportation systems, consisting of city rail systems. A city for the 2 cities was not sensible and the State federal government need to think about other city transportation systems such as bus systems and BRTS, the Centre stated.
Numerous specialists argue that if population was the criteria, how might the Centre authorize propositions for cities jobs in Agra (1.66 million population), Patna (1.7 million), Bhopal (1.8 million) and Thane (1.8 million). If the proposition for Agra was authorized for tourist, the exact same need to look for Madurai, which brings in lakhs of travelers from throughout the world every year, they felt
Chief Minister MK Stalin stated the Centre has actually rejected Metro Rail for ‘Temple City’ Madurai and for ‘South India’s Manchester’, Coimbatore, on lightweight premises.
“A federal government exists to serve individuals without predisposition. The Union BJP deals with Tamil Nadu’s democratic option as a factor to take vengeance. Pressing such a political customized, in which BJP ruled states get Metros for smaller sized Tier-II cities, while opposition ruled States are denied, is a disgraceful technique. Tamil Nadu will battle! Tamil Nadu will win,” he stated.
Kishore Chandran, Founder & & President, Dr Kalam Foundation, argues that if a city is approved for Coimbatore, it might be running by 2030. Already Coimbatore would have 3.5 million individuals; 10 million+ sq feet of office; 1,000+ tech business and another million cars.
Vanathi Srinivasan, National President of the BJP’s Mahila Morcha, and MLA representing Coimbatore South constituency stated, the claim of “rejection due to predisposition versus Tamil Nadu” is misinforming.
The Centre returned the DPRs based upon the 2017 Metro Policy, which utilizes 2011 city-proper population. Coimbatore’s figure fell listed below the 20 lakh limit according to that guideline. TN can resubmit its proposition utilizing city pile information (Coimbatore UA is 21+ lakh) or offer unique reason– simply as the Agra Metro was authorized for tourist. Comparable precedents exist for Bhopal and Patna, she stated.
TN has actually gotten 1.5 lakh crore in rail funds under the NDA– barely an indication of any anti-Tamil Nadu program, she included.
Released on November 19, 2025
