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{{Short description|Rapid transit system proposed for Coimbatore, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox public transit
| name = Coimbatore Metro
| image =
| imagesize = 100px
| alt =
| caption =
| image2 =
| imagesize2 = 310px
| caption2 =
| locale = [[Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| transit_type = [[Rapid transit]]
| began_operation = Proposed
| headquarters = [[Coimbatore metropolitan area]]
| lines = 2
| line_number = (planned)
{{color box|#e80b07; font-size:100%|[[Line 1 (Coimbatore Metro)|'''Red Line (Line 1)''']]|}} {{color box|#30f516; font-size:100%|[[Line 2 (Coimbatore Metro)|'''Green Line (Line 2)''']]|}}
| stations =
| website =
| ridership =
| train_length =
| headway =
| vehicles =
| track_gauge =
| system_length = 73 km
| average_speed =
| top_speed = {{convert|80|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| minimum_radius_of_curvature =
| el =
| operator = [[Chennai Metro Rail Limited]] (CMRL)
| owner = CMRL
| map =
| area served = Coimbatore
}}

'''Coimbatore Metro''', also known as '''Kovai Metro''', is a proposed [[Rapid transit|rapid transit system]] for [[Coimbatore metropolitan area|Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sampath |first=Nirupa |date=2024-11-25 |title=CMRL puts Madurai and Coimbatore Metro plans on fast track |url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/cmrl-puts-madurai-and-coimbatore-metro-plans-on-fast-track-812435 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=www.dtnext.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chennai Metro Focuses on Coimbatore and Madurai, Delays Salem and Tiruchy Projects |url=https://www.news18.com/auto/chennai-metro-focuses-on-coimbatore-and-madurai-delays-salem-and-tiruchy-projects-9133204.html |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
The [[Government of India|Indian government]] proposed a [[Rapid transit|metro rail]] system for 16 tier-two cities in India, including Coimbatore, in 2010. The [[Government of Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu government]] opted for a [[monorail]] the following year, however, shelving the metro project.<ref>{{cite news|title=Railway struggle comitte meets cm|newspaper=The Hindu |date=25 December 2013 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/metro-rail-railway-struggle-committee-to-meet-cm/article5500517.ece}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=railway committee suggest metro|url=http://www.railnews.in/coimbatore-railway-struggle-committee-to-meet-cm-with-metro-rail-demand/}}</ref>

The Coimbatore Railway Struggle Committee has advocated implementing a metro railway system in Coimbatore.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 October 2013 |title=Metroman E.sreedharan proposes metro |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Coimbatore-urgently-needs-a-metro-rail-system-E-Sreedharan/articleshow/24723912.cms |newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref> Transport expert [[E. Sreedharan]] conducted a 2013 survey in Coimbatore, and concluded that a metro rail system would be suitable for the city. In January 2017, a [[Coimbatore district]] administration official told ''[[The Hindu]]'' that no mass rapid transit project was under consideration for Coimbatore.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rajkumar |first1=Varun Venkatesan and Surya |date=11 January 2017 |title=Signal remains red for Coimbatore metro rail project |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/Signal-remains-red-for-Coimbatore-metro-rail-project/article17023423.ece |access-date=6 February 2017 |website=The Hindu |language=en}}</ref>

The state government revived the metro proposal that year, and Railway Minister [[Suresh Prabhu]] announced that the national government was prepared to support and fund the project with state approval. Although work was expected to begin in 2017–18,<ref name=":0">{{cite news |date=27 May 2017 |title=Metro works to begin by next financial year |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/metro-rail-project-works-to-begin-in-coimbatore-by-next-financial-year/article18593116.ece |newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> it did not proceed. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister [[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]] later announced a metro rail plan for Coimbatore, with a feasibility study and [[Project plan|detailed project report]] (DPR) to be conducted by [[Chennai Metro Rail Limited]] (CMRL). Funding would be from the German-based [[KfW]].<ref>{{cite news |date=19 July 2017 |title=Coimbatore gets metro |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/coimbatore-to-get-metro-rail/article19307106.ece |newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=27 January 2024 |title=CM announces metro for coimbatore |url=http://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/news/tamilnadu/24582-metro-to-be-started-in-coimbatore.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=19 July 2017 |title=coimbatore gets metro |url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/tamil-nadu-coimbatore-to-get-metro-second-phase-of-chennai-metro-worth-rs-88897-cr-cleared-3830313.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Madhavan |first1=Karthik |date=10 September 2017 |title=CMRL roped in for Coimbatore Metro Rail plan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/cmrl-roped-in-for-coimbatore-metro-rail-plan/article19656626.ece |newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=8 September 2017 |title=German based company funds coimbatore metro |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2017/sep/08/german-agency-to-give-125m-euros-for-kovai-metro-rail-feasibility-study-1653919.html}}</ref> CMRL issued a tender notice for the preparation of the DPR and feasibility report.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-12-04 |title=State government floats tenders for metro rail feasibility study |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/state-govt-floats-tenders-for-metro-rail-feasibility-study/articleshow/61908364.cms |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The project gathered steam in 2024–25, with CMRL submitting a DPR and Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) to the union government.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-07-26 |title=Madurai and Coimbatore metro rail projects: Missing details included in detailed feasibility report, officials say |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/madurai-and-coimbatore-metro-rail-projects-missing-details-included-in-detailed-feasibility-report-officials-say/articleshow/112042801.cms |access-date=2024-12-03 |work=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-11-25 |title=CMRL puts Madurai and Coimbatore Metro plans on fast track|url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/cmrl-puts-madurai-and-coimbatore-metro-plans-on-fast-track-812435 |access-date=2024-12-03 |work=DT Next}}</ref>

==Timeline==
*''2011'':
**The Indian government under former Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] announces metro rail projects for Tier-II cities, including Coimbatore.
**The Tamil Nadu government, under former Chief Minister [[J. Jayalalithaa]], shelves the metro rail project in favour of a [[monorail]].
*''2013:'' [[E. Sreedharan]] conducts a survey and announces that metro rail is a suitable transport option for Coimbatore.
*''2017:''
**The Tamil Nadu government, under former Chief Minister [[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]], revives metro rail for Coimbatore.
**The government announces the beginning of the Coimbatore Metro project by fiscal year 2017-18, with approvals from the state and central governments.<ref name=":0" />
**[[Ministry of Railways|Railway Minister]] [[Suresh Prabhu]] announces that the central government is ready to launch and fund the Coimbatore Metro project.
**The Tamil Nadu government announces that a [[feasibility study]] would be conducted and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared for the Coimbatore Metro by [[Chennai Metro|Chennai Metro Rail Limited]] (CMRL), with funding by [[Germany]]'s KfM.
**The Tamil Nadu government orders CMRL to float tenders. CMRL releases a tender notice for preparing Coimbatore Metro's DPR and feasibility report.
*''2018:''
**CMRL floats tender for Coimbatore Metro's DPR and feasibility-report preparation.
**KfW shortlists five firms to prepare the DPR and feasibility study for the Coimbatore Metro.
*''2019:''
**Feasibility study and DPR under preparation by [[SYSTRA]].
**Feasibility study submitted to the government and is awaiting approval.
**SYSTRA approaches the district administration and the city municipal corporation with details about development of city and state highways and [[National Highways Authority of India]] (NHAI) roads. Based on details provided by the district administration and the corporation, SYSTRA would prepare the DPR.
*''2020:''
**CMRL meets with the Highways Department and Coimbatore corporation officials and discusses implementation of the metro project. A section of the metro route is suggested to be changed because of a clash with the [[Ukkadam]] flyover. A metro line is planned to extend to [[Vellalore]] to connect to the new bus terminus.
**A fifth metro line is proposed to connect the proposed [[Coimbatore Integrated Bus Terminus]] (CIBT) in Vellalore with Ukkadam.
*''2021:''
**The Tamil Nadu government allocates ₹6,683 [[crore]] for the Coimbatore Metro project in the 2021-22 budget.<ref>{{Cite web|title=State Govt allocates Rs 6,683 crore for Coimbatore Metro Rail project|url=https://www.urbantransportnews.com/news/state-govt-allocates-rs-6683-crore-for-coimbatore-metro-rail-project|access-date=2021-09-08|website=Urban Transport News}}</ref>
**[[Rail India Technical and Economic Service|RITES]] floats a tender for a topographical survey for the project.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tender floated for Topographical survey works for Coimbatore Metro Rail Project|url=https://urbantransportnews.com/news/tender-floated-for-topographical-survey-works-for-coimbatore-metro-rail-project|access-date=2021-09-08|website=Urban Transport News}}</ref>
**A [[site survey]] begins for the project.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 7, 2021|first=A.|last=Subburaj|title=Survey begins for metro rail project|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/survey-begins-for-metro-rail-project/articleshow/85990106.cms|access-date=2021-09-08|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>
**A feasibility survey begins.
**A group of engineers and the MLA of the constituency examines the portion of the metro route which clashes with the under-construction flyover, and an alternative route is sought.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2021 |title=Metro rail project won't be an easy ride: Highways dept officials |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/metro-rail-project-wont-be-an-easy-ride-highways-dept-officials/articleshow/85990192.cms |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
*''2022'':
**The Tamil Nadu government under [[M. K. Stalin]] announces metro rail projects for Tier-II cities in the state, including Coimbatore and [[Madurai]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=TN Budget announces Metro rail projects for Coimbatore and Madurai|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/tn-budget-metro-rail-projects-coimbatore-and-madurai-174811|access-date=2023-03-23|website=The News Minute|date=20 March 2023 }}</ref>
**Finance Minister [[Palanivel Thiagarajan]] announces that the Detailed Project Report by CMRL is in its final stages, funds will soon be allocated by the central government, and construction will begin.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sekar |first=Sunitha |date=2022-03-22 |title=CMRL to do a feasibility study for building mass rapid transit in three cities |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/cmrl-to-do-a-feasibility-study-for-building-mass-rapid-transit-in-three-cities/article65245817.ece |access-date=2022-03-23 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
**A DPR for phase one of the project is in its final stages. The first phase will be 44 km on [[Avinashi Road, Coimbatore|Avinashi]] and [[Sathy Road|Sathyamangalam Roads]].
**An [[Right to Information Act, 2005|RTI]] request by Chennai-based activist Dayanad Krishnan revealed that CMRL is expected to complete phase one of the Coimbatore metro project in 2027 at a total cost of ₹9,424 crore.
*''2023:''
**₹9,000 crore is allotted for the Coimbatore Metro route between Avinashi Road and Sathyamangalam Road in the 2023-24 budget, and the DPR is to be submitted to the Tamil Nadu government.
**CMRL managing director M. A. Siddique submits a DPR for the metro to Ramesh Chand Meena, Additional Chief Secretary of Special Initiatives. The Tamil Nadu government plans a metro project on Avinashi Road and Sathyamangalam Road in Coimbatore at ₹9,000 crore for 39- and 32-km routes.
*''2024:''
**Siddique says that preliminary work for the metro is planned to start in January and February 2025. Land acquisition for the project is underway.
*''2025''
**The Union Government of India returned the metro proposals for Madurai and Coimbatore, citing the population of both cities as less than 20 lakh. However, the Tamil Nadu government raised concerns about what it called an “uneven application” of the Centre’s Metro Rail Policy, pointing out that cities such as Agra, Patna, and Bhopal despite having populations below this threshold, had been approved for metro projects.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-18 |title=Why Madurai and Coimbatore didn’t get Centre's Metro approval — and how smaller cities did |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/tamilnadu-metro-policy-madurai-coimbatore-centre-rejection-qw0p0b2t |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=@mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref>

==Corridors==
===Proposed corridors===
{{Phase I, Coimbatore Metro}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="7" |Coimbatore Metro
|-
! Corridor No
! Line
! From
! To
! Roads
! Via
! Length (km)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="background:#fc050d; text-align: center; | [[Line 1 (Coimbatore Metro)| Red Line]]
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Ukkadam Bus Terminus]]
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Karumathampatti]]
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Avinashi Road, Coimbatore|Avinashi Road]]
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Coimbatore Junction railway station|Coimbatore Junction]], [[Peelamedu]], [[Coimbatore International Airport]]
| style="text-align:center;"|29
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="background:#008000; text-align: center; | [[Line 2 (Coimbatore Metro)|Green Line]]
| style="text-align:center;"|Coimbatore Junction
| style="text-align:center;"|Valiyampalayam Pirivu
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Sathy Road]], Siruvani Road
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Gandhipuram Central Bus Terminus]], [[Ganapathy, Coimbatore|Ganapathy Pudur]], [[Saravanampatti]]
| style="text-align:center;"|44
|-
!Total
!colspan="5" |
!73<ref>{{cite news|title=Space availability a challenge for metro rail project planners|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/space-availability-a-challenge-for-metro-rail-project-planners/article30777877.ece}}</ref>
|}

===Phase I corridors===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="7" |Coimbatore Metro
|-
! Corridor No
! Line
! From
! To
! Total Distance (km)
! No.of Stations
! Status
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="background:#fc050d; text-align: center; | [[Line 1 (Coimbatore Metro)|Red Line]]
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Ukkadam Bus Terminus]]
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Neelambur]]
| style="text-align:center;"|20.4
| style="text-align:center;"|18
| style="text-align:center;"|DPR submitted
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="background:#008000; text-align: center; | [[Line 2 (Coimbatore Metro)|Green Line]]
| style="text-align:center;"|Coimbatore Junction
| style="text-align:center;"|Valiyampalayam Pirivu
| style="text-align:center;"|14.4
| style="text-align:center;"|14
| style="text-align:center;"|DPR submitted
|}

==Planning==
===Phase 1===
Phase 1 of the metro was planned to implement two corridors: from [[Coimbatore Integrated Bus Terminus]] to [[Neelambur]], and from District Collector Office to Valiyampalayam Pirivu. Covering 44 kilometers, it would cost ₹9,424 crore.<ref>{{cite news|title=Coimbatore Metro rail chugs closer to reality, DPR nearing completion|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/apr/04/coimbatore-metro-rail-chugs-closer-to-reality-dpr-nearing-completion-2437733.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tamil Nadu government gives nod to feasibility for establishing Coimbatore Metro|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/apr/04/tamil-nadu-governmentgives-nod-to-feasibility-for-establishing-coimbatore-metro-2437611.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tamil Nadu government approves feasibility study for MRTS in Coimbatore|url=https://www.metrorailnews.in/tamil-nadu-government-approves-feasibility-study-for-mrts-in-coimbatore/}}</ref> The DPR suggested a [[Metrolite]] model, but officials said that the decision to make it a Metrolite or to retain it as a metro rests with the state government.<ref>{{cite news|title=DPR getting ready for Metro project for Coimbatore|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/dpr-getting-ready-for-metro-project-for-coimbatore/article65284200.ece}}</ref> With 40 stations planned,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sekar |first=Sunitha |date=2022-04-05 |title=Coimbatore city to get its own Metrolite |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/coimbatore-city-to-get-its-own-metrolite/article65293197.ece |access-date=2022-04-07 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Phase 1 will cover transportation hubs in the city such as Coimbatore Integrated Bus Terminus, [[Coimbatore International Airport]], [[Gandhipuram Central Bus Terminus]], Coimbatore Junction, [[Ukkadam Bus Terminus]] and [[Podanur Junction]]. It will also connect commercial hubs such as [[Townhall, Coimbatore|Townhall]], [[Ukkadam]] and [[Gandhipuram]].

===Phases 2 and 3===
The remainder of Corridors 1 and 4 and all of Corridors 2 and 3 are planned to be completed in Phases 2 and 3.

==See also==
*[[Chennai Metro]]
*[[Kochi Metro]]
*[[Madurai Metro]]
*[[List of Coimbatore Metro stations]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Coimbatore}}

{{Coimbatore Topics|left}}
{{Rapid transit in Asia}}
{{Rapid transit in India}}
{{Railways in Southern India}}
{{Transport in Tamil Nadu}}

{{coord missing|Tamil Nadu}}

[[Category:Transport in Coimbatore]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Proposed rapid transit in India]]
[[Category:Proposed infrastructure in Tamil Nadu]]

Coimbatore Metro - Revision history

Red apple learning: Started A Data W/ Refs.