Asian Investment Bank officers inspect Metro Rail projects in Coimbatore

The Tamil Nadu government is preparing to start metro train services in Coimbatore and Madurai, following the success of the Chennai metro train service. Detailed project reports have been submitted, seeking capital contributions of Rs.11,368 crore for the Madurai metro project (connecting Tirumangalam and Othakadai areas) and Rs.10,740 crore for the Coimbatore metro project (connecting Avinashi Road and Sathyamangalam Road routes). In Coimbatore, the metro rail route will span from Ukkadam to Coimbatore Airport, covering 20.4 km.

With the Union Government's approval, the metro rail project work will commence. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has expressed interest in financing both the Madurai and Coimbatore projects and conducted a preliminary survey in Madurai yesterday alongside the Chennai Metro Rail Corporation team.

Following this, the group visited Coimbatore today. The inspection team included Project Director Arjunan, AIIB Senior Transport Expert Venkiu, and Chennai Metro Rail Project Chief General Manager Rekha, who conducted an inspection in front of Ukkadam Bus Stand.

The proposed Coimbatore metro rail routes include: A terminus starting at Ukkadam, passing through Ram Nagar, Gandhipuram, Ganapathy, Athipalayam Junction, Vinayagapuram, SITRA, Saravanampatti, Visyapuram, VGP Nagar, and along Sathyamangalam Road, covering 14.4 km. Another route from Ukkadam Bus Stand passing through the District Collectorate, Kuppusamy Hospital, Lakshmi Mills, Nava India, Peelamedu, Fun Republic Mall, Hope College, Coimbatore Medical College, MGR Nagar, Venkatapuram, Park Plaza, and Neelambur Station via Avinashi Road, covering 20.4 km.

Coimbatore's Avinashi Road, Sathyamangalam Road, and Trichy Road experience heavy traffic. Social activists and the public believe that the introduction of the metro train will significantly reduce traffic congestion. The people of Coimbatore district eagerly await the metro train as a permanent solution to the traffic crisis.