CMRL begins groundwork for Madurai and Coimbatore Metro Rail projects

Chennai, India (Metro Rail Today): In a proactive move to expedite the progress of the Madurai Metro Rail Project, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has proposed beginning the preparatory work for land acquisition and shifting of utility lines along the proposed metro alignment. This decision comes as CMRL anticipates the formal approval of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project.

The groundwork, which includes shifting essential utilities like water lines, sewer lines, and overhead and underground power cables, is expected to be completed before the actual construction work begins. M.A. Siddique, Managing Director of CMRL, highlighted that this preparatory work would incur minimal costs but would save around six months in overall project timelines. “Taking up the preparatory work for land acquisition and shifting of utilities would cost meagre, which can be borne by CMRL. But by doing this, we can save valuable time before the construction work commences,” said Siddique.

Aiming for Timely Metro Project Delivery

Siddique emphasized the critical role that timely execution plays in metro projects, not only in terms of meeting commuter expectations but also in controlling government costs. “The timely delivery makes immense sense not only for the users but also in terms of cost savings for the government,” he added.

One of the main hurdles faced in executing large-scale infrastructure projects like metro systems is meeting deadlines. Past experiences from Phase 1 and Phase 2 of Chennai Metro, as well as in similar projects across the country, reveal that issues such as land acquisition and shifting of utility lines have historically led to significant delays, with up to 40% of the project timeline consumed by these activities.

Minimizing Delays with Pre-emptive Measures

CMRL aims to mitigate these delays by starting the groundwork for land acquisition and utility shifting well in advance, even before receiving final approval for the DPR. Historically, these activities were carried out only after obtaining approval from both central and state governments, and after contracts were awarded, causing delays that escalated costs and affected project timelines.

Siddique stated that while land acquisition and utility shifting typically account for less than 10% of the project’s overall cost, they often consume a disproportionate amount of time—sometimes up to 40% of the project’s 3 to 4-year timeline. "The result is that cost escalation paid to contractors often exceeds the land acquisition costs," Siddique explained. To overcome this challenge, CMRL has decided to undertake these preparatory tasks well in advance for the Coimbatore and Madurai metro projects, ensuring the timely commencement of construction work.

Stakeholder Support for Madurai Metro

To further streamline the process, CMRL has already conducted stakeholder meetings in Coimbatore and Madurai. A meeting was held on February 25, 2025, in Madurai, chaired by Siddique, where the importance of land acquisition and utility shifting was discussed. The meeting was attended by the district collector, corporation commissioner, and other local stakeholders, who expressed their full support for the project.

The Madurai Metro, along with the Coimbatore Metro, is part of an integrated metro development plan proposed by the Tamil Nadu government. By advancing the groundwork, CMRL aims to avoid delays and cost escalations that have impacted similar projects in the past, ensuring that both metro systems are completed on schedule.

With these preparatory measures, Chennai Metro Rail Limited is setting a precedent for efficient project management, demonstrating its commitment to delivering the much-needed metro infrastructure in Madurai and Coimbatore without compromising on timelines or cost-efficiency.