Centre takes serious view of L&T threat

Hyderabad: The Central Project Monitoring Committee, headed by Anil Swaroop, Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office expressed concern over the controversy surrounding the prestigious Hyderabad Metro Rail project, following the letter written by the project developer L&T threating to withdraw from the project citing various reasons.

Swaroop, who along with Telangana Chief Secretary Dr Rajiv Sharma reviewed the Hyderabad Metro Rail works with other seniors officials, wanted L&T and the State government to sort out the irritants so that the project could move forward smoothly.

The committee stated, according to sources, that the concessionaire was extended all the support by the State government and was ready to solve any issue. It advised the L&T not to create confusion with unnecessary correspondence.

According to sources, Anil Swaroop took strong note of absence of L&T Metro Rail Managing Director VN Gadgil at the review meeting. The committee discussed the row that arose due to the news leaks published in a section of media recently and felt that it was unfortunate to see such things while the Centre and the State governments were cooperating fully. Swaroop reportedly told the L&T not to rake up such things in the future.

The Central Project Monitoring Committee visited the state to study the status of the common projects between Centre and State and particularly examined the progress of Metro Rail.

The L&T officials told the Committee that delay was taking place in executing the Metro Rail project as lands at some places were not handed over to it so far.

According to sources, L&T told the committee that land at Sultan Bazar and ISCON temple, Secunderabad was not handed over to the concessionaire to take up the works.

Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Metro Rail officials informed that foundation laying was completed for 40 kms, construction of pillars was done for 38 kms, 170 foundations and 138 pillar constructions had taken place during the two and half months and the progress was about 75 per cent when compared to the execution period in the combined State.

They said that though there were traffic problems, the police were giving sizable number of permissions and the Telangana government had focused heavily on the project.

Apart from HMR project, the committee also reviewed works of Sitharam Cements, steel factory in Karimnagar, Kamineni Project in Nalgonda district and expansion of Sangareddy and Hyderabad road into four lanes project.