Members of Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam (MMI) – Coimbatore staged a demonstration outside Income Tax office in Coimbatore, condemning Union Government’s decision over Coimbatore Metro Rail project proposal.
The State Government had submitted the proposal for Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rail Projects to the Centre, highlighting the need for the infrastructure in May 2026. The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs conveyed the State Govt.,that it has gone through both the proposals entirely, and has decided to turn down them. It recommended the Tamil Nadu Government to rather go with the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) on both cities instead.
The centre reportedly emphasized that both cities not meeting the population criteria was not the sole reason for it to turn down the proposals. Ridership, Travel-time reduction and other aspects have been taken into consideration in addition to the population factor, according to the Centre.
The protesting members of MMI raised slogan against the Centre, expressing disappointment over its decision to reject the proposal for Coimbatore Metro Rail project. They argued that BJP, in its 2024 Lok Sabha manifesto had assured to implement Metro in Coimbatore but it has forgotten it post the election.
MMI members under its President Eswaran condemned the Centre and demanded it to grant approval for the project.
