Arockia Rajasekhar

🩺 Radiologist | 🇮🇳 India lover | 🛑 Unapologetic Indian civic sense critic. I tweet only on civic sense and Systems

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

@naveenkopparam This is a follow up

https://t.co/V2lNXwlMhc

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

Metro Rail - Who gets it and Who doesn't and Coimbatore's 15 year wait

Some massive growth industrial tier 2 cities with higher GDP and population - No metro

Some other tier 2 cities with lower GDP and population - Have metro

Somethings off.

And thats because of an outdated policy of 2017.

Lets see how a metro gets approved .

States submit a DPR ( Detailed Project Report ). Center decides if metros are needed based on its 2017 policy . TN submitted a DPR for coimbatore metro in 2025 which was rejected based on this policy.

Now lets see how an outdated policy can affect a growing Industrial city like Coimbatore

15 year old census mismatch
Center approves metro for cities only with population of more than 20 lakhs - based on the 2011 census . Taken 15 years back.

Coimbatore actually has a metropolitan population of around 31-34 lakhs today and there is constant influx of migrants.

Also Coimbatore's urban population in 2011 was already around 21.4 lakhs, above the 20 lakh mark. The 15.84 lakh figure quoted might have been the corporation limit.

The single direction misunderstanding
The policy requires 15000-30000 users in one peak hour in one direction . The Policy assumes travel in one direction- from suburbs to center- for eg like Mumbai .

This doesn't work in Coimbatore . Coimbatore has growth across multiple areas . So peak traffic cannot happen in just one direction . Happens radially in multiple directions. People don't just travel from the suburbs to the city in one direction

The metrolite short term solution
Center suggested Metrolite based on the policy.

While Metro is the full shebang -Multiple coaches, Stations and tracks above ,on and below ground -Metrolite is Just 3 coaches at one time and on the ground . Costs 40 % of metro with travel speeds of 60 km/h.

10 years down the lane the metrolite will be a liability . Making it difficult to upgrade to a Metro.

Why Coimbatore has earned Metro
Economically Coimbatore is the second largest engine in TN. estimated GDP for 2025-26 is between 40 to 50 billion USD.

Coimbatore is a Manufacturing ,Textile , Engineering and IT hub . Its also a Education and healthcare hub.

Huge migrant population come to work in the around 25000 MSMEs . These population have their names registered in their states.

Students and Workers and Professionals need a mass transit system . Not a failure model like Bus Rapid Transit system but an actual metro .

Coimbatore also figures in top bracket for higher education ,healthcare and huge migrant workers population in the around 25000 MSME . Large numbers of potential metro users.

An outdated policy should not handicap and paralyze a top tier 2 city .

There is another tier 2 city caught in the 2017 trap -Madurai .

But Bhopal, Indore , Agra and Vizag have got thru with similar statistics as Coimbatore .

@MoHUA_India #CoimbatoreMetro

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

@naveenkopparam Coimbatore got denied with similar population and travel distance .

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

@malpani @WhatsApp There is the channels options for news houses if that serves the purpose . One can follow. But it won’t get into the chats tab . Stays in channels tab

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

Metro Rail - Who gets it and Who doesn't and Coimbatore's 15 year wait

Some massive growth industrial tier 2 cities with higher GDP and population - No metro

Some other tier 2 cities with lower GDP and population - Have metro

Somethings off.

And thats because of an outdated policy of 2017.

Lets see how a metro gets approved .

States submit a DPR ( Detailed Project Report ). Center decides if metros are needed based on its 2017 policy . TN submitted a DPR for coimbatore metro in 2025 which was rejected based on this policy.

Now lets see how an outdated policy can affect a growing Industrial city like Coimbatore

15 year old census mismatch
Center approves metro for cities only with population of more than 20 lakhs - based on the 2011 census . Taken 15 years back.

Coimbatore actually has a metropolitan population of around 31-34 lakhs today and there is constant influx of migrants.

Also Coimbatore's urban population in 2011 was already around 21.4 lakhs, above the 20 lakh mark. The 15.84 lakh figure quoted might have been the corporation limit.

The single direction misunderstanding
The policy requires 15000-30000 users in one peak hour in one direction . The Policy assumes travel in one direction- from suburbs to center- for eg like Mumbai .

This doesn't work in Coimbatore . Coimbatore has growth across multiple areas . So peak traffic cannot happen in just one direction . Happens radially in multiple directions. People don't just travel from the suburbs to the city in one direction

The metrolite short term solution
Center suggested Metrolite based on the policy.

While Metro is the full shebang -Multiple coaches, Stations and tracks above ,on and below ground -Metrolite is Just 3 coaches at one time and on the ground . Costs 40 % of metro with travel speeds of 60 km/h.

10 years down the lane the metrolite will be a liability . Making it difficult to upgrade to a Metro.

Why Coimbatore has earned Metro
Economically Coimbatore is the second largest engine in TN. estimated GDP for 2025-26 is between 40 to 50 billion USD.

Coimbatore is a Manufacturing ,Textile , Engineering and IT hub . Its also a Education and healthcare hub.

Huge migrant population come to work in the around 25000 MSMEs . These population have their names registered in their states.

Students and Workers and Professionals need a mass transit system . Not a failure model like Bus Rapid Transit system but an actual metro .

Coimbatore also figures in top bracket for higher education ,healthcare and huge migrant workers population in the around 25000 MSME . Large numbers of potential metro users.

An outdated policy should not handicap and paralyze a top tier 2 city .

There is another tier 2 city caught in the 2017 trap -Madurai .

But Bhopal, Indore , Agra and Vizag have got thru with similar statistics as Coimbatore .

@MoHUA_India #CoimbatoreMetro

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

@hindi_belter @GrowthhUpdates @naveenkopparam I hope they do that 🙏

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

@hindi_belter @GrowthhUpdates @naveenkopparam Yes 😀👍

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

@hindi_belter @GrowthhUpdates @naveenkopparam 👍

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

Actually the total population matters doesn’t it ? Everyone wants to travel and if the price is right they will .

The reasons why a metro does not take off is multifactorial including the route and last mile connectivity .

Not sure if Bhopal went wrong there .

A metro is always good to have . Takes the traffic out of the roads .

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

@GrowthhUpdates @naveenkopparam Coimbatore metropolitan population is 32 lakhs and Bhopal’s is 27 lakhs .

You may want the source

This is one .

https://t.co/JfII6Selwt

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

I am from Coimbatore . That’s great info you have tho about my city 😊.

It’s not mostly floating population though many do come for work .

After Chennai it’s the most developed city in TN and is famous for hospitals and educational institutions .

Coimbatore produces about 40 to 50 percent of motors and pumps , 75 percent of India’s wet grinders and has some 25000 MSME industries .

Kuch jyada ho gaya but thanks for letting me talk about Coimbatore .

Why I said all this is there is lot of scope for Metro in Coimbatore .

We are hoping it will happen

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

@remote_devs_com @naveenkopparam I really want to answer you but feel it’s not worth the effort

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

As usual there must be lot of ‘factors’ involved .

There’s only Rail neer . No Aquafina or Kinley .

There can be only Railway approved shops , food outlets etc all maintaining the worst hygiene .

What’s preventing Railways from allowing food outlets outside from coming into the railway station ?

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

The same or equivalent products in Europe are so much more delicious and so much more healthy .

It’s like we get what we pay for . We pay less . And get inferior products .

But the thing is regulatory bodies like FSSAI should not be allowing this to happen . If the product is suboptimal because the cost is less , it has to be stopped from being sold .

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

@sureshvenkita Mobiles should be confiscated ideally 😀 and asked to collect in the evening . In Swiss trains some passengers go out of the coach seating area near the door and speak there . Others don’t talk

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

Its a welcome move .

The point is not that a new rule has been introduced .

The point is : How will it be enforced ?

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

Chennai Metro new rule: Playing music without earphones can attract Rs 2,500 fine

#chennai #chennaimetro #cmrl #chennaimetrofine #chennaimetropenalty #tamilnadu @ANISHMONDAL1

https://t.co/MY1DsMdDRl

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

The Nasoni - supplying water in Rome since 19 BC

Visitors to Rome do not have to buy water to drink . All they need is a water bottle . Rome has about 2500 continuously running public drinking fountains on the streets, called Nasoni ,which delivers cool drinking water .

The fountains are basically cast iron cylindrical structures containing the pipe and were introduced by Rome's first mayor Luigi Pianciani in the 1870's.

The water flowing to these fountains however comes through ancient routes called aqueducts, some as old as 2000 years ago .For eg If you drink from a fountain in the historical center of Rome, the water is coming directly from the Aqua Virgo aqueduct, which was built by Marcus Agrippa in 19 BC .

There are no mechanical pumps in case you were wondering. Just Gravity and Micro-Slope. Engineers carved stone channels that decreased in elevation by 1 to 2 meters for every kilometer traveled.

When an aqueduct reached the city walls, it emptied into a massive brick distribution tower called Castellum Aquae . From here, gravity forced the water down into a subterranean network of lead and clay pipes from where water reached the street fountains .

There is no tap for the fountain and the water flows 24/7 -that looks like a massive waste of water. But if one were to put valves or taps on all 2,500 fountains to stop when not in use, the pressure would quickly build up, bursting the vintage underground pipe network.

Continuous movement keeps the drinking water completely fresh, cool, and free from bacterial growth or stagnation.

Just to clear things up, the water isn't wasted. The overflow from the fountain drains into Rome's underground sewer system.

Can we do this in India ? If not the ancient way at least the modern way .

Image source for the aqueduct channel : LeoPatrizi / Getty Images

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

@streetfrontier Exactly . And use the extra space gained for cycling tracks .
But most importantly enforce lane discipline

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

@Ravisutanjani Probably attach plastic reusable security tags on the linen that will trigger an alarm when exiting the Coach doors with the linen . Like in Garment stores .

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

These are mostly good rules

1. Pets - Unless in leash and muzzle and not very large , it could turn unsafe for children
2. Delivery persons - Best kept outside esp in view of recent flashing incident
3. Ola Uber outside seems strict - In our community they wait outside but come in when we call them after coming down . Old people obviously cannot go all the way out too
4. No drying of clothes in balcony is a tough one . A bit difficult to avoid
5. No smoking in common areas is a national rule . Welcome
6. No plastics boxes in corridors is very good
7. No pigeon feeding is very good . They are parasitic and cause many lung diseases

[Arockia Rajasekhar @arsrocky]

@kiranshaw @krishnabgowda @GBAChiefComm @BPACofficial One reason why Indians are not healthy is we don’t walk enough . This pavement drive has definitely increased not only accessibility but health as well .