Hyderabad: The state government could consider a project to introduce tram services in the city connecting some historical and heritage sites, municipal administration & urban development minister K.T. Rama Rao told the Legislative Assembly on Friday. Replying to queries on the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project (CPP), Rama Rao said the government was also looking the prospect of installing a cable car in the city and would hold a meeting with MLAs from the Old City in the next few days to discuss these possibilities.
On the pedestrianisation project, Rama Rao admitted that its progress “unfortunately was not as we wanted,” and said: “I regret the delay. Personally I feel I let down people in the older part of the city.” He then promised to the House, and AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, that the project will be completed before the end of 2024.
Referring to Owaisi saying that the CPP since its start in 2000 was about to complete its ‘silver jubilee’, Rama Rao said, “everyone knows KCR will be the CM again and the project will be completed before the end of 2024 well before it is time for silver jubilee marking the start of the project.”
He said a company from Bordeaux in France had looked at the prospects of laying tram lines from Shaikpet to the Qutub Shahi tombs, and from Mozzam Jahi Market to Charminar. “We will discuss at a meeting either on the 6th or 7th and take it up,” Rama Rao said.
The state government is also committed to seeking a world heritage tag for Hyderabad, he added.
Of the total estimated cost of Rs 353.33 crore, Rs 29.63 crore were spent so far, and works for another Rs 93.70 crore were in progress, he said. The HMDA will deposit Rs 100 crore with the Quli Qutub Shah Urban Development Authority on Saturday to speed up more works. Two bridges will also be constructed across the Musi with Rs 80 crore, and parking lots will be built near Charminar, he said.
