Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay Urges Prime Minister Modi to Sanction Major Infrastructure Projects

The Hindu•Published: Oct 12, 2026 12:23 AM IST

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sanction an inter-State metro rail link connecting Hosur in Tamil Nadu to Bommasandra in Karnataka to benefit both states. Speaking at an infrastructure event at IIT-Madras, the Chief Minister also pressed for the reconsideration of metro rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai, alongside the early approval of Phase III of the Chennai Metro Rail project.

Inter-State Transit Link: CM Vijay requested the central government's approval for the Hosur-Bommasandra metro line to foster regional connectivity between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Tier-2 City Metros: He urged the Prime Minister to reconsider and greenlight metro rail proposals for Coimbatore and Madurai to drive economic growth in western and southern Tamil Nadu.
High-Speed Rail Push: The Chief Minister pressed for high-speed rail corridors connecting Chennai to Kanniyakumari and Chennai to Coimbatore to boost regional tourism and transport.
Pending Central Funds: Vijay demanded the unconditional release of ₹5,110 crore owed to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and highlighted key highway widening proposals.

The Context & Background

The appeals were made during the inauguration of passenger services on the Chennai Metro Rail stretch from Poonamallee Bypass to Vadapalani. The state government aims to scale economic growth toward a $1.5-trillion target by 2036 by prioritizing infrastructure and innovation across all districts.

Why it matters:These infrastructure demands highlight the critical intersection of federal funding, regional development, and inter-state transit cooperation in southern India. Securing approvals for metro lines and high-speed rail corridors will directly shape economic expansion, urban mobility, and decentralization beyond Chennai.

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