Months after the State Government sent the Coimbatore Metro Rail project's Detailed Project Report to the Union Government to get is approval, sources said today that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, AIIB has shown interest on the project , and it will be sending its representatives to conduct as on-site inspection in Coimbatore on Wednesday to evaluate how the project could be done, and after giving consideration, it may grant funds to commence the project. 

During the 2024-25 Tamil Nadu Budget announcements, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said that the DPR for Coimbatore Metro Rail Project was sent to the Union Government to get its approval, and once that is received the works to commence the project will begin. 

Soon after this announcement, a Coimbatorean filed an RTI petition regarding the DPR with The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. The Ministry confirmed the receipt of the Coimbatore Metro DPR from the Tamil Nadu Government on February, and stated that the same is under examination. 

Amidst such scenario, the Tamil Nadu Government gave a new poll promise regarding the Coimbatore Metro Rail Project. It said that efforts will be taken to extend the Coimbatore Metro Project all the way to Tiruppur.

Coimbatore Metro Rail Project, in its phase 1 will cover 40 kms. via 2 corridors namely PSG Foundry - Ukkadam Bus Stand corridor and Collectorate to Valiyampalayam Pirivu corridor. Once commenced the phase 1 of the project will take 4 years to complete. The areas that will be covered under phase 1 include Neelambur, Airport, Coimbatore Medical College, Hopes College, Fun Mall, GKNM Hospital, Collectorate, Coimbatore Junction, Ukkadam Bus Stand, Gandhipuram Bus Stand, Ganapathy Pudur, Ramakrishna Mills, Saravanampatti, and VGP Nagar.

The city folks expect that upon completion of phase 1 of the project, the traffic congestion will come down significantly. 

It must be mentioned that Rs.9000 crore was allotted for the Coimbatore Metro Rail project by the State Govt. during the 2023-24 budget itself.

Earlier, it was said that Germany's KfW Development Bank (which supports infrastructure projects of public sector players) could fund the project. However the bank reportedly cited few reasons and backed down.