Coimbatore Metro

Coimbatore Metro, also known as Kovai Metro, is a proposed rapid transit system for Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

History

The Indian Government proposed a metro rail system for 16 tier-2 cities in India including Coimbatore in 2010. However, in 2011, the Tamil Nadu Government opted for a monorail, shelving the metro project.

The Coimbatore Railway Struggle Committee has since protested in favor of implementing a metro railway system in Coimbatore. In 2013, transport expert E. Sreedharan conducted a survey in Coimbatore, concluding that a metro rail system would be suitable for the city. In January 2017, an official from the Coimbatore District Administration informed ''The Hindu'' that no mass rapid transit project was currently under consideration for Coimbatore.'' ''

In the same year, the state government revived the metro proposal, and the then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announced that the national government was prepared to support and fund the project, contingent on state approval. While work was expected to begin in the 2017/18 year, it did not proceed. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami later announced a metro rail plan for Coimbatore, with a feasibility study and Detailed Project Report (DPR) to be conducted by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL). Funding was to be sourced from the German-based KFW company. CMRL subsequently issued a tender notice for the preparation of the DPR and feasibility report. The project gathered steam in 2024–25, with CMRL submitting DPR along with Comprehensive Mobility Plan(CMP) to the Union government.

Project Timeline

*2011:
**Indian Government under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announces metro rail projects for Tier II cities, where Coimbatore is also included.
**The Tamil Nadu Government under former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa shelves the metro rail project in favour of a monorail project.
*2013: E. Sreedharan makes a survey and announces metro rail as a suitable transport option for Coimbatore.
*2017:
**Tamil Nadu Government under former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami revives the metro rail for Coimbatore.
**Tamil Nadu Government announces the commencement of Coimbatore Metro Project works by financial year 2017-18 and it got approval from state and central government.
** Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announces that Central Government is ready to launch and fund the Coimbatore Metro Project.
**Tamil Nadu Government announces that feasibility study would be conducted and Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared for Coimbatore Metro by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), and the fund will be provided by German-based KFM company.
**The Tamil Nadu Government orders CMRL to float tenders. CMRL releases a tender notice for preparing Coimbatore Metro's DPR and feasibility report.
*2018:
**CMRL replied to a Coimbatore-based RTI filed by Sudandhira pon vandhiyathevan a resident of coimbatore to PM cell that Feasibility cum DPR is under preparation.
**CMRL floats tender for Coimbatore Metro's DPR and feasibility report preparation.
**German-based KFW Company shortlists five firms to prepare the DPR and feasibility study for Coimbatore Metro.
*2019:
**Feasibility study and DPR under preparation by SYSTRA Group.
**Feasibility study has been submitted by SYSTRA Group to the Government and is waiting for approval.
**SYSTRA Group has approached the district administration and the city municipal corporation to furnish details about development work to be implemented in the city and state highways, national highways roads and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) roads. Based on the details provide by the district administration and the corporation, the private company would prepare the DPR.
*2020:
**CMRL Held a meeting with the Highways Department and Coimbatore corporation officials and discussed the implementation of the metro project. A section of the metro route was suggested to be changed because of its clashing with the Ukkadam flyover. A metro line is planned to extend up to Vellalore to connect to the new bus terminus.
**A fifth metro line has been proposed to connect CIBT at Vellalore with Ukkadam.
*2021:
**The Tamil Nadu Government allocates ₹6,683 crores as funds to carry out the Coimbatore Metro Rail Project in 2021-22 Financial Budget.
**RITES floats tender for topographical survey of Coimbatore Metro Rail Project.
**Land survey begins for Coimbatore Metro Rail Project.
**Prime meridian begins feasibility study survey work for Coimbatore metro.
**A group of engineers along with MLA of the constituency tested the proposed metro route which is clashing with the under construction flyover, but its result is the pillars erected for the flyover can't be converted for metro project and they are seeking for alternative proposal on that route either by constructing underground Metro line for 10 kilometers or other alternative route.
*2022:
** Tamil Nadu Government under M. K. Stalin announces metro rail projects for Tier II cities in Tamil Nadu such as Coimbatore and Madurai.
**Finance Minister PTR. Palanivel Thiagarajan announces that the preparation of Detailed Project Report is under final stages by CMRL; funds will soon be allocated by the central government and construction will start.
**A detailed project report (DPR) for phase one of a mass rapid transit system for Coimbatore is in the final stage of finalisation. The first phase will be for 44 km on Avinashi Road and Sathyamangalam road.
**An RTI filed by Chennai-based RTI activist Dayanad Krishnan revealed that Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is expected to complete the Coimbatore metro lite rail project for phase I corridors in 2027 and the total cost for the project is ₹9,424 crores.
*2023:
**₹9000 crores have been allotted for the Coimbatore Metro rail route between Avinashi Road and Sathyamangalam Road in the 2023-24 Budget session. The DPR is to be submitted to the Government of Tamil Nadu.
**The Chennai Metro Rail Limited submitted a detailed project report for Coimbatore Metro to Ramesh Chand Meena, Additional Chief Secretary of Special Initiatives. M.A. Siddique, managing director of CMRL, submitted the report. Tamil Nadu government plans metro rail project on Avinashi Road and Sathyamangalam Road in Coimbatore at ₹9,000 crore for 39 km and 32 km route.
*2024:
**Preliminary work for the Coimbatore Metro Rail Project will start in January–February 2025, as said by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) Managing Director MA Siddique. The land acquisition for the Metro Rail project is currently underway and will progress in a process based manner.

Corridors

Proposed Corridors

Proposed Metro Rail Routes in Coimbatore Based on CMP and Feasibility study

Phase-I Corridors

Proposed Metro Rail Routes in Coimbatore Metro Phase-I stage

Planning

Phase 1

The phase 1 of "Coimbatore Metro" has planned to implement two corridors from Coimbatore Integrated Bus Terminus to Neelambur and from District Collector Office to Valiyampalayam Pirivu, covering 44 kilometers at a cost of ₹9,424 crore. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) suggested a Metrolite model but the officials said that the decision to make it a Metrolite or to retain as a metro rests with the state government. The Phase 1 focus to implement Corridor 5 (pink line) from Coimbatore Integrated Bus Terminus and Ukkadam Bus Terminus completely and the partial completion of Corridor 1 (red line) from Ukkadam Bus Terminus to Neelambur and the Corridor 4 (green line) from Ukkadam Bus Terminus to Valiyampalayam Pirivu. With 40 stations planned, the Phase 1 will cover major transportation hubs in the city such as Coimbatore Integrated Bus Terminus, Coimbatore International Airport, Gandhipuram Central Bus Terminus, Coimbatore Junction, Ukkadam Bus Terminus and Podanur Junction. It will also connect major commercial hubs such as Townhall, Ukkadam and Gandhipuram.

Phase 2 and Phase 3

The remaining parts of Corridors 1 and 4 and the complete portion of Corridors 2 and 3 is planned to be completed in Phases 2 and 3.

See also

*Chennai Metro
* Kochi Metro
* Madurai Metro
* List of Coimbatore Metro stations

References

External links

{{coord missing, Tamil Nadu

Transport in Coimbatore
Standard-gauge railways in India
Proposed rapid transit in India
Proposed infrastructure in Tamil Nadu