New Delhi, Nov 22 : Expressing deep anguish and disappointment over the Centre’s decision to reject the Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rail proposals, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his personal intervention. He also said he was ready to meet the Prime Minister in New Delhi to explain the matter in detail.
In a demi-official letter, Mr. Stalin urged the Prime Minister to instruct the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to review what he described as an “unexpected and unfair” rejection. He said he had asked the Department of Special Initiatives to submit detailed justifications addressing the concerns raised by the MoHUA.
Stating that Tamil Nadu is the most urbanised state in the country with high per-capita private vehicle ownership, the Chief Minister said its major growth engine cities urgently require high-capacity public transport systems. “We had prepared the DPRs for Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rail projects and forwarded them to MoHUA for approval. We also followed up continuously,” he said, recalling how he had personally raised the issue with the Prime Minister during meetings on May 24 and July 26.
Mr. Stalin said the rejection has caused “deep resentment” among the people of the two cities, especially since similar projects have been sanctioned in other states.
Questions MoHUA’s Criteria, Cites Possible Discrimination
The Chief Minister questioned the Centre’s reliance on the Metro Rail Policy 2017 guideline, which requires a minimum population of two million. He pointed out that the Coimbatore LPA had crossed that figure as early as 2011, and Madurai is likely to have reached the threshold now.
He further noted that if this criterion had been applied uniformly, Metro projects in several tier-II cities—such as Agra, Indore and Patna—“might not have materialised.” The selective application, he said, has created “an impression of discrimination,” which must be dispelled.
On the MoHUA’s concerns regarding ridership projections, Mr. Stalin said it was inappropriate to compare Coimbatore’s potential ridership with that of Chennai, as each city has unique commuting patterns. He highlighted that the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for Coimbatore, prepared by RITES, had already projected the need for an MRTS. Similarly, Madurai’s CMP from 2011 had proposed a BRT system but also suggested that an elevated rail-based system would be more viable.
Land Availability Not a Hindrance, Says CM
Addressing concerns about land acquisition, Mr. Stalin said Metro Rail projects across India have required private land acquisition, and Tamil Nadu has effectively balanced social costs with long-term public benefits. “We will ensure that land availability does not become a hindrance for the proposed projects,” he assured.
Urging the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision in light of the state’s arguments, Mr. Stalin reiterated his readiness to meet him personally. “These two projects involve the aspirations of the industrial and cultural hubs of Tamil Nadu,” he said, seeking Mr. Modi’s direct intervention.