Dattaraya reviews Telangana's railway projects

Hyderabad, Dec 20 (INN): Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya on Sunday held a review meeting with South Central Railway General Manager Ravindra Gupta, Hyderabad Metro Rail Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy and other officials from railways and discussed the pending railway projects in Hyderabad and Telangana.

Addressing a press conference later, Dattatraya said that the present BJP Government would provide funds for Phase-II of MMTS, which was neglected by previous regimes since 12 years due to non-allocation of funds. The total cost of the Project is Rs. 820 Crores, including Rs.150 Crore for coaches. In last budget, Rs. 120 Crores were given. The State Government has given Rs. 60 Cr and was asked to provide Rs.100 Crores more. In today's meeting it was decided to commission MMTS Phase II by December 2017. In the ensuing Budget the Railway Minister will be requested to provide Rs. 200 crore so that this target could be met.

Dattaraya informed that there has been increase of 9% traffic in the city of Hyderabad every year. The traffic congestion is going to be a big issue for the city and the State Government has to study the total transport policy and come up with an integrated plan. "The State Government has to widen the approach roads to MMTS stations. It also has to see that feeder bus facility is available for the MMTS stations. Very soon a meeting will be held with State Transport, Revenue and Railway Authorities to discuss this issue," he said.

The Union Minister also said that there was a need to increase the Railway terminals serving Hyderabad City. Cherlapalli and Nagulapalli terminals need to be developed immediately and integrated with ORR. The State Government will have to provide 60 Acres of land for terminals at each place, he said.

The railway line between Peddapally and Nizamabad will be commissioned by March 2016, for which full funds are provided this year by the Railway Ministry. The Kaziguda-Mahabubnagar doubling, costing Rs. 500 Cr, will be taken up this year by floating of tenders shortly, he said.

The Metro Railway Project will be fully completed by 2017 i.e. 72 Kms. During 2016 the sections between Miyapur and SR Nagar (12kms) and Nagole and Mettuguda (8kms) will be commissioned, probably in June 2016, the Minister informed.

The existing MMTS-II project which is now terminating at Umdanagar, has to go up to Shamshabad airport for it to be more useful. Both the State Government and Civil Aviation Ministry has to take up this with GMR for the land, as well as, financing.

"The State Government is changing the Hyderabad Metro Rail alignment in old city for political reasons. While the original plan was traversing the densely populated areas the changed plan would cover less populated areas. This will be a historical mistake. Politics should not come in the way of development. State Government should reconsider this," Dattaraya said.