Telangana Assembly clears resolution to take over Hyderabad Metro phase-I from L&T

The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Saturday approved a resolution endorsing the State government’s decision to take over phase-I of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project from L&T.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who moved the resolution, informed the House that phase-I covers 69 km and that the State has already submitted proposals to the Centre for expanding the Metro network through phase-II A (76.4 km) and phase-II B (86.1 km).

Mr. Reddy said the decision has been taken after considering the technical, legal and administrative issues involved in developing phase-II under a joint partnership with the Centre, while phase-I remained under private management. The State government, he said, opted to acquire phase-I through Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL) in order to address concerns raised by the Union government and facilitate further expansion.

Seeking the House’s endorsement, the Chief Minister said the government has prepared a roadmap to strengthen public transport and enhance Hyderabad’s global standing. He thanked the members for extending support to the resolution. Panel Speaker Balu Naik, who was presiding over the session, announced that the resolution had been adopted, amid raising voices by the BRS legislators.

Criticising the government, BRS Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao said the move was not unanimous as claimed terming it a unilateral decision. Earlier, IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu had made a statement on the takeover.