KTR Asks Puri to Pitch in Funds for Metro Expansion, Roadworks

Hyderabad: MA&UD minister K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday called on Union urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri in Delhi to seek Central assistance to improve public transportation and road network in Hyderabad urban agglomeration.

Submitting a series of representations, Rama Rao sought help to implement measures to make Hyderabad cleaner, and to enhance the metrics and performance in solid and liquid waste management.

Additionally, Rama Rao requested the Centre to introduce National Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme (NUEGS), on the lines of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), to help the urban poor in the country.

Detailing his request on transport, Rama Rao sought expedition of approvals for a 26-km Hyderabad Metro Rail line from BHEL to Lakdikapul and a 5-km line from Nagole to LB Nagar, as detailed project reports were submitted a few months ago.

Rama Rao sought financial assistance for the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in Kokapet, in west Hyderabad, which is fast developing as the central business district. Informing that preliminary estimates pegged the MRTS cost at ₹3,050 crore, he appealed for a financial contribution of ₹450 crore from the Centre.

The Telangana minister, seeking to extend missing link roads to the Outer Ring Road, apprised the minister of work to be undertaken in 104 corridors, at ₹2,400 crore. He asked for the support of ₹800 crore for the link roads.

For improving cleanliness and waste management, Rama Rao conveyed a need of ₹3,722.82 crore for three sewerage treatment plant (STP) clusters for liquid waste collection. He appealed to the Centre to sanction 20 per cent of the project cost of ₹744.56 crore.

He said that the state government, with the support of the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), developed a blueprint for a sanitation innovation hub in Telangana, with seed commitment made by the state.

Puri expressed his admiration for the sanitation hub initiative, saying its creative concepts will address numerous challenges in the development of municipalities. The Union minister asked the state to share its innovative ideas and provide details at an upcoming meeting organised by his ministry.

Rao briefed the Union minister on the government initiatives and invited him to see the developments for himself.