Coimbatore, Madurai Metro Rail projects rejected! We condemn the BJP government that is destroying the federal system! Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi Statement!
Coimbatore, Madurai Metro Rail Projects Rejected!
We Condemn the Union BJP Government for Undermining the Federal System!
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi Statement!
The Union BJP government is continuously neglecting Tamil Nadu in granting Metro Rail projects. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi strongly condemns this.
The Tamil Nadu government had submitted Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to the Union Government requesting Metro Rail projects for the major cities of Tamil Nadu, Madurai and Coimbatore. The Union BJP government, which has granted Metro Rail projects to towns smaller than these two cities in BJP-ruled states, has rejected the projects submitted from Tamil Nadu.
Following the condemnation by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, offered an explanation. He stated, in essence, that "as per the 2011 Census, the population of the Coimbatore Municipality (CMC, with an area of 257 sq. km) is 15.85 lakh, and the Local Planning Area (LPA, with an area of 1287 sq. km) has a population of 7.7 lakh. However, the passenger number projections have been made too high, and the Tamil Nadu government must prove them."
It is surprising that the Union Government has cited the 2011 population as the reason for rejecting the implementation of Metro Rail projects in these two cities, claiming the population is insufficient. Since a population census has not been conducted after 2011, rejecting these projects based on those figures is not right. The population in these two cities has increased many folds during the intervening 14 years. The Union Government's failure to consider this, despite being aware, shows their prejudiced approach.
The non-granting of the Metro Rail project for Madurai and Coimbatore cities is due to the BJP's anti-Tamil Nadu stance. To cover this up, BJP members are spreading false information claiming there are flaws in the project reports submitted by the Tamil Nadu government.
We point out that the Union BJP government, which is consistently neglecting Tamil Nadu and undermining the federal system, must correct its approach; otherwise, they will face the severe opposition of the people of Tamil Nadu.