Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday criticised the Union BJP government for rejecting Metro Rail projects for Madurai and Coimbatore, describing the move as an act of "revenge" against the people of the state. In a post on 'X', Stalin stated that the Centre had told the state "No metro" for the "Temple City" of Madurai and "South India's Manchester," Coimbatore, despite approving similar projects in other smaller cities within Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states.
"The Union BJP government has denied Metro Rail for Temple City Madurai and for South India's Manchester, Coimbatore, on flimsy grounds. A government exists to serve people without bias. Yet the Union #BJP treats #Tamil Nadu's democratic choice as a reason to take revenge," CM Stalin wrote in his post.
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry reportedly returned Tamil Nadu's Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the two Tier-II cities recently. Reports suggest the Ministry cited the Metro Rail Policy, 2017, which limits central support to urban areas with a population of at least 20 lakh (two million) according to the 2011 Census.
The Centre pointed out in its communication that Coimbatore and Madurai had populations of approximately 15.84 lakh and 15 lakh respectively in 2011, falling short of this mandated threshold.
Questioning what he termed the "uneven application" of the policy, the Chief Minister noted that Metro projects had been given the green light in cities such as Agra, Bhopal, and Patna, which also fall below the 20 lakh population norm but are located in states governed by the BJP.
He argued that the Union government was treating the democratic verdict of Tamil Nadu against the BJP as an excuse to "take revenge" by withholding crucial infrastructure from its people.
Stalin asserted that a government must operate in a manner that is fair to all and should not display such a "mean approach" of punishing opposition-ruled states, calling the rejection of the projects "disgraceful".
Describing Madurai as "Kovil Nagar" (Temple City) and Coimbatore as the "Manchester of South India," he said both deserved modern mass transit systems and accused the Centre of slighting their aspirations with its "No Metro" response.
The Chief Minister vowed that his administration, together with the residents of Madurai and Coimbatore, would "defeat" what he alleged was the BJP's vindictive strategy and ensure that Metro Rail becomes a reality in the two urban centres.
Tamil Nadu had submitted DPRs, a Comprehensive Mobility Plan, and an Alternative Analysis Report for the two projects between February and December 2024. Tamil Nadu had submitted DPRs, a Comprehensive Mobility Plan and an Alternative Analysis Report for the two projects between February and December 2024, and in March this year the Centre had informed Parliament that they were under consideration, before the latest rejection.
The Metro proposals are part of the DMK government's broader effort to expand mass transit beyond Chennai and improve connectivity in fast-growing industrial centres across the state, a demand Stalin has repeatedly raised with the Union government, including through earlier representations seeking approval for Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rail.
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