November 20, 2025
Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar has said that it is unfortunate that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru M.K.Stalin has chosen to politicise and create controversy over the application of The Metro Policy 2017, which is a procedure designed to ensure that costly infrastructure projects such as Metro Rail Systems, generate maximum benefit for the public. In a post on X, Khattar wrote, “Thiru. Stalin has ignored the magnanimous sanction of the Central Government on October 3, 2024 to the Chennai Metro Phase-2 project at a cost of Rs 63,246 Cr for a route length of 119 km. This is the biggest ever sanctioned metro project. The Coimbatore and Madurai proposals contain the following discrepancies: 1. For lesser route length in Coimbatore than in the Chennai Metro system, a higher traffic projections as compared to Chennai have been given. On the face of it appears erroneous. 2. Projected average trip lengths and speed differentials between road traffic and the metro, do not support the expectation of a modal shift of traffic to a metro system. 3. As per DPR of Coimbatore, there is inadequate right of way at 7 metro station locations 4. The Comprehensive Mobility Plan of Madurai (para 5.2.5), clearly stipulate that with current ridership, BRTS is justifiable. 5. Coimbatore Municipal Population (CMC with 257 http://sq.km) area has population of 15.85 lakhs (2011) in and Local Planning Area (LPA with 1287 http://sq.km) has population of 7.7 lakh (2011 census). Ridership projections are made for modal shifts within the Local Planning Area which is five times bigger than the CMC area. This projected shift to metro system needs justification. Further, GoTN has chosen not to use benefit of GoI PM e-bus sewa intended to provide 10,000 air conditioned e-buses in different cities. Under this scheme, Central Financial Assistance is given for buses, creation of depot infrastructure and Behind the Meter facilities. Despite repeated persuasion, from GoTN has not participated in this scheme so far.”
