Chief Minister Stalin will bring Metro Rail to Coimbatore, Madurai, says Senthilbalaji

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will bring the Metro Rail to Coimbatore and Madurai, said former DMK Minister V. Senthilbalaji in Coimbatore on Thursday. Cadre of the DMK and its alliance parties staged a protest in Coimbatore against the Central government for rejecting the Coimbatore Metro Rail proposal.

Mr. Senthilbalaji alleged that the Centre had not initially sanctioned funds for the Chennai Metro Rail project either. “The DMK government struggled to give funds. Yet, the project was implemented. Why will it not be possible for the Tamil Nadu government to implement the Coimbatore Metro? The DMK government will be able to implement the Metro Rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai,” he contended.

The AIADMK and its alliance parties, including the BJP, won 10 seats in the Coimbatore region in the Assembly election. Then, why is the Centre refusing the Metro Rail project for Coimbatore, he wondered.

Mr. Senthilbalaji said Mr. Stalin had implemented projects such as the Avinashi Road flyover, Semmozhi Poonga, library, and jewellery park in Coimbatore. Alleging that the AIADMK and its leaders had amassed wealth and joined hands with the BJP to protect themselves, he said the party was not relevant in the State anymore.

“The Centre rejected the proposals on flimsy grounds despite the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) being submitted 15 months ago. The Coimbatore Corporation has 16 lakh voters. It is one of the fast-growing cities and Tamil Nadu is the second largest tax paying State in India. The World Bank even studied the DPRs. The Centre approves projects for BJP-ruled States immediately. Why has it rejected them for Coimbatore and Madurai? Is there any other city where the Metro Rail project was rejected?” he asked.

The BJP did not win any seat in Tamil Nadu in the Parliamentary election, and it will not win any in next year’s Assembly election too, the former Minister added.