Chennai: The ambitious metro rail projects for Coimbatore and Madurai remain stuck in the initial notification stage, awaiting approval from the central government for nearly 19 months. The prolonged delay has ignited a major political controversy in Tamil Nadu, especially after revelations that similar projects in BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat were approved in a fraction of the time.

The Coimbatore metro rail project, first announced by the central government in 2012, remains on paper even after 14 years, while other cities like Kochi and Pune, announced around the same period, have operational metro systems. The current proposals, advanced by the DMK government, involve significant investments of Rs. 10,740 crore for Coimbatore and Rs. 11,360 crore for Madurai. The project reports were submitted to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, but the central government’s response has been that the projects are “costly” and are still under the “first phase of testing.”

Coimbatore Metro, estimated at ₹10,740 crore, will span 32 stations, while Madurai Metro, costing ₹11,368 crore, will have 17 stations. Despite Tamil Nadu’s urgency, MoHUA cites extensive evaluations as the cause for delay, sparking concerns about slow approvals.

Controversy Erupts Over Alleged Disparity in Project Approval

The delay has drawn sharp criticism following information obtained through an RTI query by social activist Dayanand Krishnan. The data reveals a stark contrast in the central government’s approval timeline for projects in different states. While Coimbatore and Madurai have waited 19 months without clearance, the metro rail projects in Kanpur and Agra (Uttar Pradesh) were approved in just five months, and the Ahmedabad and Surat (Gujarat) projects received the green light in eight months.

This disparity has led to accusations of political bias, with critics alleging that the central government is fast-tracking projects in BJP-ruled states while neglecting Tamil Nadu’s infrastructure needs. The DMK government, after coming to power, had affirmed its commitment to the projects and submitted detailed reports to the centre, but the lack of subsequent allocation of funds and approval has become a key point of contention. With Coimbatore experiencing rapid growth in IT and industry, the metro rail is seen as a critical necessity for the city’s development and decongestion.