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Chennai: In a major blow to Tamil Nadu’s infrastructure ambitions, the Union government has rejected three high-profile projects—the Hosur greenfield airport and the metro rail systems for Coimbatore and Madurai. The decisions, communicated over the past week, have sparked sharp criticism from the state government and triggered political backlash, with the ruling DMK accusing the Centre of unfairly blocking Tamil Nadu’s development.
Hosur Airport: Defence Ministry Says No
The proposed international airport at Hosur, planned across 2,300 acres in Sulagiri taluk, has been turned down by the Ministry of Defence, which stated that the airspace is required for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) operations. This is the second rejection since June 2025, despite the state submitting a detailed report in November arguing that the airport could coexist with HAL’s activities.
Additionally, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has sought an impact study to assess whether the Hosur airport would affect traffic at Bengaluru or Salem airports. The project also faces a legal hurdle: an agreement between Bengaluru International Airport and the Centre prohibits new airports within a 150 km radius, which Hosur falls within.
Coimbatore and Madurai Metro: Population and Viability Concerns
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has returned the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for metro rail in Coimbatore and Madurai, citing non-compliance with the 2017 Metro Rail Policy. Key reasons include:
State Government’s Response
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging a review of the rejections. State officials argue that both Coimbatore and Madurai are rapidly growing industrial hubs whose current populations and economic needs justify metro systems. They plan to resubmit the proposals with additional data to counter the Centre’s objections.
Political Fallout
The rejections have added fuel to the ongoing political tussle between the DMK-led state government and the BJP-led Centre, especially with the Tamil Nadu assembly elections approaching. The state has accused the Centre of “stalling Tamil Nadu’s progress” and showing bias in approving projects in BJP-ruled states while withholding clearance for Tamil Nadu.
