The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation has taken a strong stance against the central government's decision to reject the proposed metro rail project for the city. During a council meeting held on Friday, corporation members passed a formal resolution condemning the Union government's move, highlighting the project's critical importance for Coimbatore's urban development.
Heated Council Meeting Sees Multiple Resolutions Passed
The resolution against the metro project rejection was one of 88 different resolutions that received approval during the corporation council meeting conducted at Victoria Hall. The extensive agenda included various municipal matters ranging from public health to infrastructure development.
Among the significant resolutions passed were proposals for desilting and replenishing defunct public wells, procurement of dengue fogging solutions, municipal bond release, and work orders for constructing additional buildings in Urban Primary Health Centers (UPHCs). The meeting covered a wide spectrum of civic issues affecting Coimbatore residents.
Political Clash Over Metro Project Responsibility
The atmosphere turned contentious when DMK and its alliance party councillors specifically requested Mayor R Ranganayaki to introduce a resolution condemning the central government's rejection of the metro rail project. The mayor agreed to this request, and the resolution was passed immediately during the session.
The approved resolution emphasized that the metro project is crucial for improving public transportation and reducing the growing traffic congestion problems in Coimbatore. It highlighted the potential benefits the metro system could bring to the city's residents and overall development.
However, AIADMK councillors countered by accusing the DMK government of deliberately preparing a flawed Detailed Project Report (DPR). This allegation sparked a heated argument between DMK and AIADMK councillors, with both sides holding each other responsible for the project's rejection by the central government.
Conflicting Claims and Walkout Protest
DMK councillors defended their position by claiming that the current state government had allocated more than Rs 6,000 crore in its 2021 budget and again in 2023 specifically for the Coimbatore metro project. They further alleged that during the previous AIADMK rule, the DPR preparation had not even been initiated.
In response, AIADMK councillor R Prabhakaran of ward 47 presented a different narrative. He stated that during the AIADMK regime, then Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had entered into an agreement with a Japanese company for the metro rail project and allocated approximately Rs 3 crore for the first phase of work. Prabhakaran claimed that when the DMK government came to power, the allocated money was blocked, and the current administration submitted an error-filled project report that led to its rejection by the central government.
The political tension escalated to the point where three AIADMK councillors walked out of the meeting and staged a sit-in protest in front of the meeting hall, openly condemning the DMK government's handling of the metro project.
The controversy surrounding the Coimbatore metro rail project continues to highlight the challenges in urban infrastructure development and the political dimensions that often influence critical transportation projects in growing Indian cities.
