CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): The CMRL, being the Project Executing Agency (PEA), has compiled the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Coimbatore metro and has identified several critical areas for the construction of the mass rapid transit system. However, the Chief Minister’s office has yet to approve the DPR.
This was stated in response to the Right to Information (RTI) petition filed by Dayanand Krishnan, a Chitlapakkam local, in May 2022.
The initial phase-I of the project, estimated at Rs 9,424 crore, has identified a list of corridors to be implemented in stages, as per the details provided in the RTI reply from the CMRL in January.
These areas include Kaniyur to Ukkadam bus stand (along Avinashi Road) for 26 km, Bilichi to Ukkadam bus stand (along Mettupalayam Road) for 24 km, Karanampettai to Thannerpanthal (along Trichy Road and Thadagam Road) for 42 km, and Ganeshapuram to Karunya Nagar (along Sathyamangalam Road to Perur Road) for 44 km.
The CMRL official revealed that the agency is currently debating between the Lite Rail Transit (LRT) and Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS). While LRT is more cost-efficient, MRTS is more sustainable and can carry a more significant number of passengers.
 In addition, the officials are also contemplating the ‘at grade’ option for Coimbatore, beyond the city limits.
