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

News Topical, Digital Desk : The DMK government's plans to build metro rail networks in Coimbatore and Madurai have suffered a major setback. The central government has returned the detailed project reports (DPRs) for both projects, stating that the cities do not meet the population criteria under the National Metro Rail Policy, 2017. The Tamil Nadu government had prepared the DPRs for two metro corridor proposals for Coimbatore and one for Madurai and sent them to the central government for approval, as metro projects are implemented jointly by the two governments.

Why was the DPR returned?

According to a report in the Deccan Herald, in a letter sent to the state government on November 14, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs stated that the two cities do not qualify for a metro network and asked the administration to explore alternative modes of transport. The communication stated that according to the 2011 census, Madurai had a population of 1.5 million and Coimbatore had a population of 1.584 million. According to the National Metro Rail Policy, 2021, to qualify for a metro rail network, a city must have a population of at least 2 million.

Government sources confirmed receiving the letter from the central government. A government official said, "We are studying it." Although both cities will have a population of over 2 million in 2025, the central government will only consider the 2011 population figures because the decennial census hasn't been conducted since 2020. The ministry said metro projects are expensive and should be planned for the long term.

DMK can make it a political issue

The Centre's return of the DPRs is likely to spark a political controversy, as the DMK was keen on two projects that are expected to transform Madurai and Coimbatore. The DMK had pressured the Centre 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 neglecting Tamil Nadu because the state does not vote for the saffron party. With Tamil Nadu Assembly elections just months away, the DMK could use this move to its political advantage.