Sheer discrimination against Telangana: KTR spurns rejection of Hyderabad Metro phase II

HYDERABAD: Taking a strong objection to the BJP-led Uion Government’s decision to reject the proposal of Hyderabad Metro phase-II, Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao wrote a letter to Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri to reconsider the Centre’s decision.

Reacting to media reports that the Centre declined to approve the extension of metro rail from Lakdikapul to BHEL and Nagole to LB Nagar on the grounds of feasibility, KTR said that it was strange that Government of India which had sanctioned metro rail projects to many cities with less traffic felt that Hyderabad did not qualify for the extension of the metro rail project.

Responding to the Telangana Government’s letter to extend financial assistance to the Hyderabad Metro phase- II project, the Union Ministry said, “The PHPDT (Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic) and ridership is very less and does not justify Metro Rail project at this juncture.”

Without mincing words, the minister said that it was nothing but a blatant discrimination against Telangana. “If the traffic of Hyderabad’s high density corridors does not qualify for a Metro Rail project, I wonder how a number of small cities of UP like Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur, Agra, Prayag Raj, Meerut and cities located in some of their favourite States get qualified. This is nothing but discrimination and step-motherly treatment to Hyderabad and Telangana,” KTR said.

The minister pointed out that his multiple attempts to meet Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to explain the importance of Hyderabad Metro Phase II went in vain. “Given your professional background, I hoped that you would ensure fair and objective treatment to our infrastructure development proposals without any bias or prejudice,” the minister mentioned in his letter to Puri.

KTR said that the state government was more than willing to clarify any doubts the Centre had on the project and requested for an appointment of union minister Puri. “Nevertheless, I would once again urge you to get the Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II project proposal examined dispassionately on the merits of DPR and have it approved at an early date,” KTR added.