Photo for representational purpose.
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday (November 22, 2025) wrote a detailed letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing disappointment and anguish over the rejection of the proposals for Metro Rail systems in Coimbatore and Madurai and urged him to instruct the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to reconsider the decision.
“Tamil Nadu, being the most urbanised State in the country with a high per capita private vehicle ownership, needs high-capacity public transport alternatives in all its large growth engine cities. Towards this, we had prepared the DPRs for Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rails and forwarded the same to MoHUA for approval,” Mr. Stalin said in his letter.
“Considering the high priority accorded to these two projects, we were continuously following up with the relevant Ministry. In this backdrop, the rejection of this request has taken us by complete surprise. It has created deep resentment amongst the people of the two cities that their deserving needs have been rejected, as compared to similar projects sanctioned in other States,” Mr. Stalin said.
‘Two million population criteria selectively applied’
According to him, the purported reasons quoted in the communication from MoHUA are not appropriate and the criterion of two million population, as in the Metro Rail Policy 2017, has been quoted as one of the main reasons for rejection. “I wish to highlight that the population of Coimbatore LPA area had exceeded 2 million way back in 2011 itself and in the case of Madurai too, the expected population is likely to exceed it now. It is pertinent to point out at this juncture that if this 2 million criteria had been applied uniformly, many Metros in Tier-II cities like Agra, Indore and Patna may not have materialised,” the Chief Minister said.
“The selective application of this criterion to our proposal has created an impression of discrimination against our cities and the Union government needs to dispel it by treating our cities on par with the cities mentioned above. In addition, the adequacy of ridership for the project in Coimbatore city has been arrived at by comparing with the ridership of Chennai. This is not appropriate since ridership depends upon multiple factors. Both these cities have commuting patterns different from Chennai,” Mr. Stalin said.
The Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for Coimbatore prepared by RITES after detailed traffic studies had clearly projected the need for MRTS in the proposed sectors. For Madurai also, the CMP of 2011 had proposed BRT but since most of the route length would have to be elevated, it had clearly mentioned that the rail-based system can also be considered. Further, the DPR studies have made subsequent independent assessments of traffic projections, which justified the need for Metro Rail corridors, the Chief Minister pointed out.
He said these factors have not been adequately taken into consideration. With reference to the availability of right of way, it is well known that Metro Rail projects have necessitated acquisition of private lands in most cities in India.
“We are fully conscious of the need for balancing social costs due to land acquisition with the long-term socio-economic benefits from Metro Rail projects. We have been offering compensation which meets the expectations of the land owners in our current project and we will ensure that the availability of land will not be a hindrance for the proposed projects at Coimbatore and Madurai cities,” he said.
“I have advised the Department of Special Initiatives to submit detailed justifications on the issues raised by MoHUA. I urge you to instruct MoHUA to review the decision of returning the proposals in light of the above points. If necessary, I am ready to meet you at New Delhi with my team to explain the issues in detail. Since these two projects involve the aspirations of the industrial and cultural hubs of Tamil Nadu, I look forward to your personal intervention in this issue,” he said.
Published – November 22, 2025 11:08 am IST
