Chief Minister KCR asks officials to take forward Old City Metro Rail project

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) has instructed the Municipal Administration department to take forward the old city Metro Rail project.

He also spoke to the Chairman of Larsen and Toubro (L&T) company, the agency executing the Metro Rail Project, and asked him to expeditiously take up the project and promised all needed support.

The major decision in fulfilling the long-time wish of the people of the Old City came days after Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao assured the people of Old City that the Telangana Government would take up the project if the company refused to honour its commitment owing to financial constraints.

According to the detailed project report (DPR), the Metro Rail would reach the Darulshifa area from the existing MGBS station and would go along Mir Alam Mandi upto Shaalibanda crossroads till Falaknuma with stops at Charminar, Shaalibanda, Shamsheergunj, Jangammet and Falaknuma with a massive depot in Falaknuma.

However, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) a strong political force in the Old City expressed its reservation about the proposed route as it would touch several religious structures on its way.

The AIMIM proposed an alternative route close to the Musi River, passing through High Court, City College, Hussainialam, Kalapahad and Bahadurpur thereby spiking the project cost further.