KTR calls Centre's rejection of Metro Rail phase II discrimination

Hyderabad: Expressing displeasure over the BJP-led Centre's decision to reject the proposal of the Hyderabad Metro Rail phase-II project, minister K.T. Rama Rao on Tuesday wrote a letter to Union minister for urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri calling it blatant discrimination against Telangana.

The Telangana government had earlier written to the Centre to extend financial assistance to the Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase II project — the 26-km BHEL-Lakdikapul line and five-km extension between Nagole and LB Nagar.

The Union ministry in its reply noted that the PHPDT (Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic) and ridership of Hyderabad were very less and did not justify a Metro Rail project at this juncture.

Reacting sharply to this, Rama Rao stated, “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, Prayagraj, Meerut and other cities located in some of their favoured states get qualified. This is nothing but pure discrimination and step-motherly treatment to Hyderabad and Telangana.”

Calling the decision strange, the minister said that his multiple attempts to meet Puri to explain the importance of Hyderabad Metro Phase II went in vain. “Given your professional background, I had hoped that you would ensure fair and objective treatment to our infrastructure development proposals without any bias or prejudice,” he mentioned in his letter to Puri.

Appealing to the Centre to reconsider its decision, Rama Rao stated that the state government was more than willing to clarify any doubts the Centre had on the project and requested an appointment with the Union minister.

“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," he stated.