Tue Dec 24 13:55:19 UTC 2024: ## Coimbatore Metro Rail Project to Feature Integrated Interchanges

**COIMBATORE, December 24, 2024** – The Coimbatore Metro Rail (CMR) project will include integrated interchanges at the airport, railway junction, and bus stands, according to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) Managing Director M.A. Siddique. This announcement follows a stakeholders meeting held Tuesday in Coimbatore.

While the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 34.8 km project initially proposed separate stations, Mr. Siddique stated that the design allows for flexibility to integrate interchanges, aligning with national-level advocacy. The meeting included discussions with District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati, Corporation Commissioner Sivaguru Prabakaran, and representatives from industry and trade organizations.

The project, along with the Madurai metro, is expected to receive central sector funding. Approval for the DPR, which includes additional inputs requested by the central government, is anticipated soon. The Madurai project, a 32-km line connecting Thirumangalam and Othakadai, is estimated to cost ₹16,340 crore.

Both projects are slated for three-year completion periods, starting with land acquisition and utility relocation, expected to take up to two years. The CMRL has urged the district administration and City Corporation to begin preliminary tasks in January-February 2025, with land acquisition notifications anticipated in March. The project requires acquiring 10 hectares for the metro lines and 16 hectares for a depot. Discussions are underway with the Highways Department to integrate development with the planned flyover extension. Future expansion along L&T Bypass Road, and new lines along Tiruchi and Mettupalayam roads, are also planned in line with the Comprehensive Mobility Plan.

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