Coimbatore Metro

Coimbatore Metro
Overview
OwnerCMRL
Area servedCoimbatore
LocaleCoimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Transit typeRapid transit
Number of lines
2
Line number(planned)  Red Line (Line 1)   Green Line (Line 2) 
HeadquartersCoimbatore metropolitan area
Operation
Began operation
Proposed
OperatorChennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL)
Technical
System length73 km
Top speed80 km/h (50 mph)

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

History

The Indian government proposed a metro rail system for 16 tier-two cities in India, including Coimbatore, in 2010. The Tamil Nadu government opted for a monorail the following year, however, shelving the metro project.

The Coimbatore Railway Struggle Committee has advocated implementing a metro railway system in Coimbatore. Transport expert E. Sreedharan conducted a 2013 survey in Coimbatore, and concluded that a metro rail system would be suitable for the city. In January 2017, a Coimbatore district administration official told The Hindu that no mass rapid transit project was under consideration for Coimbatore.

The state government revived the metro proposal that year, and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announced that the national government was prepared to support and fund the project with state approval. Although work was expected to begin in 2017–18, 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 would be from the German-based KfW. CMRL issued a tender notice for the preparation of the DPR and feasibility report. The project gathered steam in 2024–25, with CMRL submitting a DPR and Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) to the union government.

Timeline

Corridors

Proposed corridors

Coimbatore Metro
Legend
Phase I
Valiyampalayam Pirivu
VGP Nagar
Park Plaza Neelambur
Viswasapuram
Venkitapuram Neelambur depot
Saravanampatti
PLS Nagar Coimbatore International Airport Airport interchange
Chitra Nagar
MGR Nagar
Vinayagapuram
SITRA Circle
Ramakrishna Mills
Coimbatore Medical College
Athipalayam
Hope College
Ganapathy Pudur
Fun Republic Mall
Moor Market
Peelamedu
Coimbatore Omni Bus Stand Bus interchange
Nava India
Gandhipuram Bus Terminus Bus interchange
Lakshmi Mills
Ramnagar
GKNM Hospital
Coimbatore Junction Mainline rail interchange
Collectorate
Coimbatore Junction railway station
Town Hall
Ukkadam Bus terminus Bus interchange
Coimbatore Metro
Corridor No Line From To Roads Via Length (km)
1 Red Line Ukkadam Bus Terminus Karumathampatti Avinashi Road Coimbatore Junction, Peelamedu, Coimbatore International Airport 29
2 Green Line Coimbatore Junction Valiyampalayam Pirivu Sathy Road, Siruvani Road Gandhipuram Central Bus Terminus, Ganapathy Pudur, Saravanampatti 44
Total 73

Phase I corridors

Coimbatore Metro
Corridor No Line From To Total Distance
(km)		 No.of Stations Status
1 Red Line Ukkadam Bus Terminus Neelambur 20.4 18 DPR submitted
2 Green Line Coimbatore Junction Valiyampalayam Pirivu 14.4 14 DPR submitted

Planning

Phase 1

Phase 1 of the metro was planned to implement two corridors: from Coimbatore Integrated Bus Terminus to Neelambur, and from District Collector Office to Valiyampalayam Pirivu. Covering 44 kilometers, it would cost ₹9,424 crore. The DPR suggested a Metrolite model, but officials said that the decision to make it a Metrolite or to retain it as a metro rests with the state government. With 40 stations planned, Phase 1 will cover 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 commercial hubs such as Townhall, Ukkadam and Gandhipuram.

Phases 2 and 3

The remainder of Corridors 1 and 4 and all of Corridors 2 and 3 are planned to be completed in Phases 2 and 3.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sampath, Nirupa (25 November 2024). "CMRL puts Madurai and Coimbatore Metro plans on fast track". www.dtnext.in. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  2. ↑ "Chennai Metro Focuses on Coimbatore and Madurai, Delays Salem and Tiruchy Projects". News18. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  3. ↑ "Railway struggle comitte meets cm". The Hindu. 25 December 2013.
  4. ↑ "railway committee suggest metro".
  5. ↑ "Metroman E.sreedharan proposes metro". The Times of India. 26 October 2013.
  6. ↑ Rajkumar, Varun Venkatesan and Surya (11 January 2017). "Signal remains red for Coimbatore metro rail project". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Metro works to begin by next financial year". The Hindu. 27 May 2017. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020.
  8. ↑ "Coimbatore gets metro". The Hindu. 19 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "CM announces metro for coimbatore". 27 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "coimbatore gets metro". 19 July 2017.
  11. ↑ Madhavan, Karthik (10 September 2017). "CMRL roped in for Coimbatore Metro Rail plan". The Hindu.
  12. ↑ "German based company funds coimbatore metro". 8 September 2017.
  13. ↑ "State government floats tenders for metro rail feasibility study". The Times of India. 4 December 2017. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  14. ↑ "Madurai and Coimbatore metro rail projects: Missing details included in detailed feasibility report, officials say". The Times of India. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "CMRL puts Madurai and Coimbatore Metro plans on fast track". DT Next. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  16. ↑ "State Govt allocates Rs 6,683 crore for Coimbatore Metro Rail project". Urban Transport News. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  17. ↑ "Tender floated for Topographical survey works for Coimbatore Metro Rail Project". Urban Transport News. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  18. ↑ Subburaj, A. (7 September 2021). "Survey begins for metro rail project". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "Metro rail project won't be an easy ride: Highways dept officials". The Times of India. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  20. ↑ "TN Budget announces Metro rail projects for Coimbatore and Madurai". The News Minute. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  21. ↑ Sekar, Sunitha (22 March 2022). "CMRL to do a feasibility study for building mass rapid transit in three cities". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  22. ↑ "Why Madurai and Coimbatore didn't get Centre's Metro approval — and how smaller cities did". @mathrubhumi. 18 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "Space availability a challenge for metro rail project planners".
  24. ↑ "Coimbatore Metro rail chugs closer to reality, DPR nearing completion".
  25. ↑ "Tamil Nadu government gives nod to feasibility for establishing Coimbatore Metro".
  26. ↑ "Tamil Nadu government approves feasibility study for MRTS in Coimbatore".
  27. ↑ "DPR getting ready for Metro project for Coimbatore".
  28. ↑ Sekar, Sunitha (5 April 2022). "Coimbatore city to get its own Metrolite". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 April 2022.