Mohammed Ali Shabbir, leader of opposition in the Telangana legislative Council today charged the ruling TRS and its political ally MIM solely responsible for the delay and escalation of cost of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project .
Speaking to reporters on the occasion of the inaugural of first phase of 30 kms out of 70 K.M of the Metro rail corridor from Miyapur to Ameerpet and to Nagole onNov.28, the LOP said the Metro Rail was the baby of the congress party which designed, laid foundation, procured all financial linking and finally central approvals also .’ If at all TRS and MIM have done anything is delaying the project by demanding the concessionaire L&T to change the route in front of Assembly, Slultan Bazar and also Old city which led to delay of two years from the appointed date of July 5, 2012.
He said it is thus in all fairness that at least now K Chandrasekhar Rao should seek PMs assurance that the key arteries of the Metro Rail connecting Airport and old city are completed ahead of schedule. The concession to L& T for 35 years includes the five years of construction. ‘ If PM and CM fail to announce a firm schedule for completion of the left over works (corridors etc) of the Metro Rail , the Congress party will launch a protest agitation big way with support pf old city people ‘ he warned ,
He said the Congress party had finalized the project after assessing the shifting of IT to Hyderabad and to make international city the project was agreed with the L & T in 2007 on PPP model of it is only project with 90 % funding by L&T and kick started the Metro Rail project along with ORR(outer ring road) and PV express highway, Abdulkalam Azad sujala sravanthi project to bring water from Godawari and Krishna with sole goal to elevate Hyderabad to a global hub by spending two lakh crores .
He said the MIM does not want the development of old city as it will loose its monopoly if Muslim youth are educated and Muslim women are empowered .In fact the Congress with its sole aim to develop old city and promote youth had designed linking to Falaknuma but the later rulers changed the route and abandoned Falaknuma region, the LOP said .
Shabbir said the L&T was spending Rs.13000 crore of the total cost of Rs.14318 crore and the GOI contribution was just Rs.1458 crore and that of state government is Rs.300 crore for land acquisition and logistical support . ‘If the deviations and alterations are effected as per the TRS and MIM demand the cost would be as high as Rs.200 crore per surface km and Rs.600 crore per tunnel km ‘ he said.
The LOP Demanded that the original plan of Imliban to Falkanuma which covers more than 12 historic places which can bring employment opportunities to youth , know because of alternative route suggested by MIM which is not feasible and L&T decided not to take up the continuation, due to escalation of cost . He also demanded to announce who is going to take the line with funds from State government or from Center as PM Modi likely to Inaugurate, the ball was in court of KCR and centre ( Modi) to ensure quicker completing of remaining corridors of the Metro rail.
He said the sole credit for Metro Rail should go to congress govt with had struck a sound deal with the PPP partner L & T and laid foundation for the work in 2007 itself .The deal was for revenue from Passengers at 50%, Malls and shopping at 45% and only 05% from Parking and Ads. he said