Tamil Nadu: CMRL Expediates Rs 22,000 Crore Coimbatore And Madurai Metro Projects

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has placed Coimbatore and Madurai at the forefront of its expansion plans for tier-two cities in Tamil Nadu, sidelining Salem and Tiruchy for the time being.

According to a senior official, detailed project reports (DPRs) for Coimbatore and Madurai Metro projects have already been submitted to the Union government.

The Tamil Nadu government has forwarded the DPRs to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Department of Economic Affairs. “The project features will soon be presented to the ministries, after which they will move to the Public Investment Board (PIB) for technical approval before reaching the Union Cabinet for a final nod,” the official explained, reports dtnext.

The proposed Coimbatore Metro, estimated to cost Rs 10,740 crore, will feature two lines spanning 39 km with 32 stations. Key locations along the route include Ukkadam Bus Stand, Coimbatore Junction, Gandhipuram Bus Stand, Saravanampatti, Coimbatore Medical College, and Coimbatore Airport.

In a first for South India, CMRL is also advancing plans for an interstate Metro line between Hosur in Tamil Nadu and Bommasandra in Karnataka. The 23-km route will include 12 stations and a depot, with 11 km falling in Tamil Nadu and the remaining 12 km in Karnataka.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) is conducting a detailed feasibility report (DFR), nearing completion. Once finalised, the project will proceed to the approval stage.

While Coimbatore, Madurai, and Hosur-Bommasandra projects are being prioritised, plans for Salem and Tiruchy Metros have been shelved for now. The 38-km Salem Metro and 45-km Tiruchy Metro projects are paused due to feasibility concerns. Additionally, a CMRL study concluded that a Metro project in Tirunelveli is not viable.