MADURAI: Trade and industry bodies in Madurai have expressed disappointment over the Union government’s rejection of the city’s Metro Rail proposal on the grounds of insufficient resident population, arguing that the criterion fails to reflect the city’s actual transit demands.

S Rethinavelu, president of the Agri and All Trade Chamber, said the decision overlooks Madurai’s daily operational population, which far exceeds its residential numbers. He noted that Madurai serves as an economic, cultural, tourism, medical, and travel hub for several southern districts, drawing thousands of people each day for work, education, trade, treatment, and sightseeing.

He added that most visitors return to their hometowns by evening, creating a massive daily inflow and outflow that strains city infras

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