Tamil Nadu, the 10th largest state in India by area. Among the cities in 2011, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Salem are the next populous cities in the state, followed by the state capital, Chennai respectively. As cities of Indian cities facing challenges by the pollution of private vehicles, the people of cities of Tamil Nadu desires get a modern traffic free and pollution free transportation with affordable price.

Metrolite

The Centre has proposed light urban rail transit system - 'Metrolite' - in small cities and towns having lower projection of ridership. These trains will have three coaches and the speed will not be more than 25 kilometres per hour. This train will run along the ground as well as above the pillars. It will also work as a metro feeder system, and its cost is less compared to the metro rail system. To implement the ‘Metrolite’ system in smaller cities, the Center will provide financial assistance to the states. Many of cities in Tamil Nadu are not having any railway connectivity and completely rely on road based transportation and facing traffic issues.

Why Metrolite? - It is cost effective

One of the main reasons for choosing Metrolite over the Metro Rail system, is that it would cost much less such as building one km of an elevated stretch of Metro will cost Rs 200-250 crore and underground Rs 500-550 crore. But ‘Metrolite’ may be built with Rs 100 crore per km. 

Why Metrolite? - It is occupies less space

Another important reason for considering Metrolite for the cities of Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore, Madurai,Tiruchirappalli and Salem) is that, unlike Metro, it can take sharper curves. “While a Metro cannot take very sharp turns, the light rail can. The radius of curvature for a Metro may be about 100 m, but for light rail, it may be about 25-30 m". The Metrolite system needs less land to build and it can cover areas that may not be possible to link by the Metro rail.

Metrolite tramways are good for low-density cities like Coimbatore, Madurai,Salem and Trichy, where capital-intensive metro rail systems need not get sound ridership.  All this bring about faster project implementation in a sustainable manner at much lesser cost, while catering for more commuters than the metro

Why Metrolite? - Modern Traffic free Transportation with Affordable Price

Chennai Metro is being considered one of the costliest Metro in terms of price. Even though Chennai Metro has 1,00,000 ridership per day, CMRL still running in loss (CMRL logs Rs 715 crore loss in FY 2018-19). So the other cities of Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore, Madurai,Salem and Trichy) doesn't need to follow the same footstep of Chennai and can get a modern traffic free transportation with affordable price.

Please sign this petition to urge the government to start of the project. (Please don't miss the email confirmation, which will be sent from change.org after signing the petition)

Read more at:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/jul/21/centre-proposes-metrolite-train-for-small-cities-2007288.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/73727147.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst​

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/one-year-on-cmrl-logs-rs-715-crore-loss-in-fy-2018-19/articleshow/73727147.cms​

https://m.dinakaran.com/article/news-detail/645918