Coimbatore Metro: DPR To Be Submitted Soon, First Phase Along Avinashi Road And Sathy Road

M A Siddique, the managing director of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), announced that the first phase of the Coimbatore metro project would cover Avinashi Road and Sathy Road stretches.

He stated that a detailed project report would be submitted to the Tamil Nadu state government on 15 July.

The project would encompass a total of 39 km and include 32 stations, at an estimated cost of Rs 9,000 crore.

Coimbatore City, known as the Manchester of South India, is one of the fastest-growing Tier-II cities in India. It is home to a plethora of economic activities such as textiles, trade, commerce, technology, medical facilities and manufacturing and is an embodiment of entrepreneurial spirit.

Keeping in view the future growth potential of the city, the government has decided to implement the Metro Rail project in Coimbatore city.

At the Coimbatore district collector's office, Siddique conducted a consultative meeting with officials from various departments.

Siddique said that the city would receive a three-coach metro service connecting the two stretches from Railway Junction, which has been designated as the interchange station.

Both stretches propose the construction of elevated corridors. The left side of Avinashi Road will house an elevated metro corridor, which will be built above the ongoing flyover connecting the Old Avinashi Flyover and Neelambur. The new corridor will span 17.4 km and feature 17 stations, starting from Ukkadam and ending at Neelambur.

"We have included a provision for a future bus terminal in the stretch," he stated.

The Sathy Road corridor, which branches out at the collectorate, will terminate at Valayampalayam Pirivu. This stretch will cover a distance of 16 km and include 14 stations.

Depending on the location, the elevated corridor will be constructed at heights ranging from 13 metre to 20 metre.

The metro service will operate at intervals of five to seven minutes.

The construction of the corridors requires the acquisition of approximately 35 acres of land, while an additional 38-40 acres of land need to be acquired for the depot near Neelambur, adjacent to the L and T Bypass.

The comprehensive mobility plan proposes four stretches, with priority given to Avinashi Road and Sathy Road. The next phase can include Trichy Road and Mettupalayam Road.

When questioned about the consideration of Pollachi Road and Palakkad Road, he stated that they would be considered at a later stage, according to the Times Of India report.

It will take one to one-and-a-half years to initiate the work, and the completion will require three to three-and-a-half years.

The detailed project report, which is almost finished, has incorporated provisions for traffic management during the progress of the work. The DPR also includes a dedicated line connecting the airport.