Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has asked the Centre to approve the metro rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai, stating that the state government has approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi but to no avail. Calling the projects “vital”, Stalin said that Tamil Nadu deserves “fair treatment”.
Stalin shared a post on X with a poster stating that “Approve what we deserve. Coimbatore and Madurai need their metros now.”
“Tamil Nadu’s future cannot wait,” he said, adding that the rejection of the proposals have hurt people of Tamil Nadu.
‘I stand ready to meet you’
Stalin tagged PM Modi in his tweet and said that it is important that the Centre treats Tamil Badu government fairly. “Tamil Nadu’s growth needs fair treatment by the Union government! Hon’ble Prime Minister Thiru. @narendramodi, I have repeatedly sought #MetroRail for #Coimbatore and #Madurai in every memorandum and my meeting with you,” he said.
“As one of the strongest contributors to our nation’s growth, the people of Tamil Nadu are deeply disappointed by the rejection of these proposals,” he said.
Stalin said that these are “vital infrastructure projects for the State’s growth engines”. “And Tamil Nadu’s development is India’s development. We look forward to objectivity and fair treatment in contributing to it. I stand ready to meet you with my team to explain their critical importance,” he said.
Former Minister Ponmudi said the CM will “fight for Coimbatore and Madurai Metro rail projects and also implement them”.
DMK cadre also shared multiple posts on social media, with one saying, “Tamil Nadu deserves fairness, not double standards.
When smaller cities elsewhere got Metro approval, rejecting Coimbatore & Madurai is unjust. These cities power India’s growth strengthening them strengthens the nation.”
Union Minister rejects claims
Reacting to the row, Union Minister Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar said on Thursday that the Metro Rail proposals submitted by the Tamil Nadu government for Coimbatore and Madurai had discrepancies.
Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran alleged that the State government had deliberately sent a flawed report on the Coimbatore and Madurai metro rail projects to the Centre, which was returned.
When asked whether the BJP would ensure metro connectivity for Madurai and Coimbatore, he responded, “We will bring the Metro by June 2026.”