Bhongir MP calls on railway minister to discuss extension of MMTS till Raigir

HYDERABAD: Bhongir MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy who called on Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the national capital urged that the Central government should bear the entire cost for the extension of MMTS (Phase-II) work up to Raigir.

He said that since Telangana state was facing a funds crunch, expecting funds from the state would further hold up the project.

He emphasised that this will help the city get connected to Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Telangana’s own Tirupati in Yadagirigutta.

He said that every day thousands of devotees from various states visit Yadagirigutta to have darshan. “Many students, employees, businessmen, and farmers commute daily to Hyderabad. This will become one of the most important tourist and pilgrimage destinations in near future,” he stressed.

The MP also brought to his notice that the extension of MMTS from Ghatkesar to Raigir (near Yadadri) was sanctioned in 2016-17 on a cost-sharing basis in the ratio of (2 state government: 1 Railway).

Despite the Telangana government accepting the deal for a revised cost of Rs 412.26 cr, it has failed to even deposit the initial deposit of Rs 75 cr. This has led to the project being stuck at the tender stage.

“Present financial position of Telangana state is not good for sharing the burden for the completion of any Railway Project. The Prime Minister should help financially to take this forward, as a special case,” he said.

The MP said the Union minister gave a positive response and assured to take up the project at the earliest.