Overview
- MoHUA says the DPRs were sent back under the Metro Rail Policy 2017, flagging inflated ridership and trip-length assumptions, inadequate right‑of‑way at seven Coimbatore station sites, and a Madurai CMP that currently favors a BRT option.
- In a fresh letter, Stalin urges a review, contends the 2‑million population threshold is being applied selectively, cites Coimbatore’s Larger Planning Area crossing the mark, and directs his department to submit detailed justifications.
- Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar calls the process routine scrutiny and points to the Cabinet’s prior clearance of Chennai Metro Phase‑II to counter allegations of discrimination.
- BJP Tamil Nadu chief N. Nainar Nagenthran says the plans were only returned for clarifications and could be cleared after revisions, while AIADMK’s Edappadi K. Palaniswami blames reliance on 2011 Census figures and seeks updated DPRs.
- DMK‑led alliance partners stage protests in Coimbatore and Madurai accusing the Centre of unfairly blocking the projects, keeping the political dispute in the spotlight.