PTR Palanivel Thiaga Rajan Challenges Fadnavis on Madurai Metro Project
In a significant development from Madurai, Information Technology Minister PTR Palanivel Thiaga Rajan addressed the media on Wednesday, expressing strong disagreement with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the proposed metro project for the city. While acknowledging Fadnavis as a personal friend, PTR sharply criticized his views on the matter, highlighting what he perceives as inconsistencies and political biases in infrastructure approvals.
Population Criteria Questioned in Metro Project Rejection
PTR pointed out that both the Madurai and Coimbatore metro projects were previously rejected by authorities citing insufficient population as the primary reason. However, he challenged this rationale by noting that metro projects have been successfully implemented in several northern states with populations lower than Madurai's. "Will the population of Madurai suddenly increase to 2.5 million at that time?" he questioned, referencing Fadnavis's recent statement. The Maharashtra CM had promised to approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure the metro for Madurai if a specific candidate, Raama Sreenivasan, was elected as MLA.
Despite these hurdles, PTR confirmed that the Madurai metro project report has been resubmitted to the Union government for approval after necessary corrections were made. He emphasized the state's commitment to advancing this critical infrastructure initiative.
Allegations of Stepchild Attitude Towards Tamil Nadu
The minister escalated his criticism by accusing the Union government of adopting a "stepchild attitude" towards Tamil Nadu. He claimed that funds are being systematically denied not only for the metro project but for various other schemes as well. For instance, education funds have been withheld under the condition that a three-language formula must be implemented first.
PTR cited the Chennai metro phase-2 project as a clear example of this bias. Although the Tamil Nadu government initiated and fully funded the project starting in 2021-22, the Union cabinet only granted its approval in 2024. "The Union government is telling people it will provide projects only if they vote for BJP, thereby forcing the public to vote for the party," he alleged, suggesting a politically motivated approach to development funding.
Financial Disparities and Naming Controversies
Further elaborating on the financial inequities, PTR stated that Tamil Nadu receives disproportionately low returns on its contributions to the central exchequer. "If Tamil Nadu gives ₹1 to the Union government, it returns only 25 paise, and even that comes with numerous regulations for spending," he explained, painting a picture of fiscal neglect.
In a more contentious claim, the minister alleged that project approvals are contingent on their names being in Sanskrit, implying a cultural bias in the allocation of resources. He asserted that the Centre continues to betray the people of Tamil Nadu by refusing to grant projects that rightfully belong to the state, undermining regional development and autonomy.
This statement from PTR Palanivel Thiaga Rajan underscores ongoing tensions between the state and central governments over infrastructure funding and political representation, with the Madurai metro project serving as a focal point in this broader dispute.
