Hyderabad Metro expansion will benefit BJP MP areas too—so why no green light yet, asks Congress MLC Balmoor

Hyderabad: The constituencies of three BJP MPs from Telangana will benefit from the expansion of Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) and yet the Centre has not approved the project, stated Congress MLC Venkat Balmoor.

Balmoor slammed the Central government for delaying the approval of the development of Phase 2 (B) of HMR despite the Detailed Project Report being submitted on time.

“The Pune Metro Rail project was not ready, and the detailed reports were not sent to the Centre and yet the approval was given. Why is the Central government playing such low-level tactics? They had the funds and had to clear a project. They called the details from Maharashtra and sanctioned the project. This is an injustice to Telangana, which has followed all the procedures and submitted a DPR to the Centre in time,” he said.

Who is to benefit from the metro rail?

Phase 2 of the metro rail project has covered the maximum areas in the outskirts of Hyderabad.

- Nagole to Shamshabad RGIA (Airport corridor) - 36.8 km

- Raidurg to Kokapet Neoplois - 11.6 km

- Old City MGBS to Chandrayangutta - 7.5 km

- Miyapur to Patancheru - 13.4 km

- LB Nagar to Hayatnagar - 7.1 km

Telangana Congress leaders pointed out that the stretch from Jubilee Bus Stand to Medchal and from Jubilee Bus Stand to Shamirpet will affect the constituencies of the BJP MPs, Kishan Reddy and Eatala Rajender.

The Airport metro rail project will affect the constituency of Chevella BJP MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy.

Balmoor said, “The three main stretches where the works are to be taken up are in the constituencies where the BJP Members of Parliament are going to get maximum political mileage. But the Central BJP government does not want development in Telangana. They have once again shown partiality in disbursing Central funds.”

How much funding is required from the Centre?

The total estimated cost of the project is: Rs 24,269 crores, as submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on November 4, 2024.

The joint venture for the project is 50:50. The project is a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Telangana.

What is the plan for the Telangana government?

For now, the works are going on at a slow pace, and the funds from the Centre would give it a boost.

However, as the funds have not been sanctioned, meetings are being held to discuss taking the project further.

A senior Congressman, on condition of anonymity, said, “The Central government wants to exert its influence on the local body elections and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections. For this reason, they are not allowing the development projects to get the sanction. The Telangana government will review the situation and see what can be best done.”