CMRL speeds up Rs 8,500-cr Madurai Metro Rail project

The Madurai Metro Rail project has been fast-tracked by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) and construction is set to begin shortly with an investment of Rs 8,500 crore. The Managing Director, MA Siddique, stated that Phase-I of the metro project will cover a distance of 31 km from Thirumangalam to Othakadai, comprising 18 stations, with 14 elevated and four underground. The metro will have 26 km of elevated tracks, while the remaining 5 km will pass through areas near temples on an underground stretch.

To preserve Madurai's heritage, the route from Goripalayam to Vasantha Nagar in front of Meenakshi Amman temple will have a tunnel under Vaigai River. The total cost of the project will be contributed by the Centre (20 percent) and the state government (60 percent). According to the feasibility report submitted to the government, the city will have Metro Lite instead of conventional metro coaches. Metro Lite can be considered either an enhanced tram or a downgraded metro, and each train will have three coaches.

The second phase of the Madurai metro rail project will include the construction of a metro station at Madurai International Airport that will connect the city. Currently, Chennai is the only city in Tamil Nadu that has a metro, while Madurai and Coimbatore are the other two cities where metro services are being planned on a fast-tracked basis.