The INDIA bloc cadre is staging a demonstration in Madurai on Friday. | Photo credit: G. MOORTHY
Speakers at a protest rally organized by the INDIA bloc parties here on Friday pulled up the Union government for rolling back the Metro Rail project proposal for Madurai and Coimbatore citing lower population.
Addressing the protesters, DMK leader Pon Muthuramalingam said the Union government had not given a proper reason for rejecting the Metro Rail project in two major cities of Tamil Nadu.
He described as a “false argument” the Union government’s basic criteria for 20 million urban dwellers to qualify for Metro Rail projects.
Mr. Muthuramalingam wondered how the Union Government had agreed to a similar project to cities in North India like Patna and Agra, which had less than 20 thousand inhabitants.
Pointing out the BJP leaders’ argument that Agra was given an exemption from the 20,000 population criteria for its tourist attraction, he said Coimbatore is known as the Manchester of South India, which has a larger network with the world.
Madurai, one of the oldest cities as revealed by the Keeladi archaeological excavations, had several places of tourist and historical importance, including Jain sites. Several history scholars have repeatedly visited Madurai because of its historical significance, he said.
Stating that Madurai is certain to get the Metro Rail project, he said that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will not rest until the two cities get a mass transport system.
CPI(M)’s Madukur Ramalingam recalled that the Union government had betrayed Tamil Nadu regarding the archaeological excavations in Keeladi and the early construction of AIIMS in Madurai.
“That the BJP MLA, Vanathi Srinivasan, said that the Metro Rail project in Coimbatore will be set up after the AIADMK government comes to power only proves that the project was rejected by the Union government not because of its population size,” he said.
Congress constituency president Karthikeyan said the BJP-led Center had denied Tamil Nadu funds for Samara Siksha Abiyaan.
DMK district secretaries G. Thalapathi and S. Manimaran, MLAs M. Boominathan (MDMK) and A. Venkatesan (DMK) and representatives of VCK, SDPI and other parties participated in the protest.
Published – 21 Nov 2025 21:23 IST
