Coimbatore city may be the first city in the state to have a Metrolite system that will cover a distance of 45.87 km with 40 stations, stopping at several important destinations in the city, including the Coimbatore airport.
The detailed project report states that there will be a total of three phases for Coimbatore. In the first phase, two corridors are planned, with the first connecting Vellore Bus Terminal with PSG Foundry via Ukkadam Bus Stand and providing airport line connectivity from Park Plaza (completely covering 31.73 km) ). The second corridor will connect the Collectorate Metro with Valliyampalayam Pirivu (Length: 14.13 km). The Collectorate will be the Metro Common Station for these corridors and the station is likely to be built in the eastern end of the Collectorate.
Based on the traffic estimates, a Metrolite system has been proposed for Coimbatore city as opposed to the regular Metro. A source said, “We are proposing a metrolite system, but the state government will take a final call on this.”
The first corridor to run from Vellore Bus Terminal to PSG Foundry, with airport connectivity, will have 26 stations: Vellore Bus Terminal, Mettur, Rail Kalyan Mandapam, Podanur Junction, Thiruvalar Nagar, Kurichi Pirivu, Karumbukkadai, Ukkadam Bus Stand, Town Hall, Coimbatore Junction Station, Collectorate Metro, GKNM Hospital, Lakshmi Mills, Nava India, Peelamedu Pudur, Fun Republic Mall, Hopes College, Coimbatore Medical College, SITRA Circle, MGR Nagar, PLS Nagar, Venkatapuram, Park Plaza, Nilambur, PSG Foundry and Coimbatore air port.
The stations on the other corridor from Collectorate Metro to Valiyampalayam Pirivu are Collectorate Metro, Rama Nagar, Gandhipuram Bus Stand, Omni Bus Stand, Moore Market, Ganapati Pudur, Athipalayam Junction, Ramakrishna Mill, Vinayagapuram, Chitra Nagar, Sarvanampatti, Vishwasapuram. VGP Nagar and Valiyampalayam Pirivu.
According to officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), some of the differences between the regular Metro Rail system and Metrolite are that the stations and trains will be compact in size and there is no concept except an interchange station such as an interchange station. Collectorate Metro. “The idea is to keep the cost as minimal as possible. Until there is sufficient road width, the stations will be elevated on the main road. In the Chennai Metro Rail system, security checks are done and tickets are issued at the concurrent level. But in Metrolite A passenger entering the station will first reach the foot-overbridge level to buy a ticket and then move to the platform to pick up the train,” said a source.
One of the key aspects employed in this system is to provide connectivity to all transport hubs like Coimbatore and Podanur Railway Junction, Ukkadam and Gandhipuram Bus Stand, Vellore Bus Terminal and Coimbatore Airport, like the Chennai Metro. “This will not only help the commuters to switch modes of transport easily but will also bring more footfall to the system. Chennai, Chennai Central and Chennai airport enjoy a lot of protection as compared to the rest of the stations,” he said.
The four-coach Chennai Metro Rail train has a carrying capacity of 1,200 passengers, while the Metrolite will have three coaches in each train with a total capacity of 300 passengers.
After the completion of the feasibility report, the Consultant, Chennai Metro Rail started preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) which is almost complete. Sources said that the Chennai Metro Rail will soon submit the DPR to the state government and upon its approval, the next step would be to prepare a plan to seek funds for the Phase I project.
This mass rapid transit system will be built as per the National Building Code, 2016 and Metrolite guidelines that were issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2019.