CMRL allocates Rs. 154 crore for acquiring land for metro rail project in Coimbatore.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has allocated ₹154 crore in its first phase to acquire land for a 1.1-kilometer stretch along the Coimbatore-Sathyamangalam road at Ganapathy, as part of the metro rail project. The acquisition, aimed at facilitating smooth implementation of the project, will be supported by a detailed land plan survey conducted jointly by the city corporation and CMRL officials, with the revenue department handling the actual land acquisition process.

In related developments, the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation has agreed to provide space for a CMRL office in the city, a move expected to expedite project execution. Coimbatore MP Ganapathy P Rajkumar and Corporation Commissioner Sivaguru Prabakaran met with CMRL officials in Chennai last week to discuss the project’s two corridors. The first corridor will span 20.4 km, running from the Ukkadam bus stand to Neelambur integrated station via the city airport, while the second corridor will cover 14.4 km from the city railway junction to Valiyampalayam Pirivu.

Addressing concerns over recurring land acquisitions on the same stretch, Commissioner Prabakaran explained, “The section from the Textool rail over-bridge to Surya Hospital on the Coimbatore-Sathyamangalam road is extremely narrow and prone to severe traffic congestion. The State Highways Department’s National Highways wing has already sanctioned ₹54 crore for road widening over a 3.1 km stretch in this area. To avoid duplicative land acquisitions, CMRL has been allocated ₹154 crore to secure a 24-metre-wide parcel from the Textool flyover to Surya Hospital Junction, covering a 1.1 km segment.”

The revenue department will primarily acquire land along the eastern side of the road, after which the National Highways authorities will commence the planned road widening. Additionally, a separate ₹2 crore has been sanctioned for a detailed land plan survey that will assess the requirements for both metro corridors, including the relocation of underground cables and water pipelines. A comprehensive report will be submitted to CMRL, guiding further land acquisition on the identified stretches.

Commissioner Prabakaran also confirmed that the corporation would rent out space for the CMRL office, noting, “Once CMRL appoints staff for its Coimbatore office, the pace of work will accelerate.”

ET