Hyderabad: CM Revanth lays foundation for Old City metro rail, heaps praise on Owaisi

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday heaped praise on AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, saying even he was not able to defeat him in elections and that the Hyderabad Lok Sabha MP speaks up in the Parliament for all Indians.

Speaking at a programme for laying the foundation stone of the Old City metro rail project, Reddy said Owaisi is one of the few Parliamentarians who raise their voice for not only the minority communities but ‘all 140 crore Indians.’ He asserted that politics takes a backseat when it comes to development.

“The Congress government is dedicated to the comprehensive advancement of Hyderabad and will collaborate with the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in this context,” the chief minister declared.

‘Vibrant master plan for Hyderabad development’

“It is not Old City; this is the original Hyderabad city. Be it Quli Qutub Shah or nawabs, they brought glory to Hyderabad. We are preparing a 2050 vibrant master plan for the development of Hyderabad. For widening of roads in the Old City, we have allocated Rs 200 crores,” Revanth Reddy said.

Elaborating further, he said that plans are underway to beautify 55 km of Musi River and develop a pleasant ambience for the people on the Musi Riverfront. Recently, a delegation from the government went to London and discussed the Musi River rejuvenation plan with the Thames governing body, he added.

Chanchalguda Jail to be shifted

Revanth Reddy said metro rail services should not be confined to the rich in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills.

“It should also be made accessible for the Old City and middle-class citizens. We will expand the metro rail project from Owaisi Hospital, Chandrayangutta, Mylardevarpally to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. We are going to set up a large metro junction at Chandrayangutta,” he said and added that Chanchalguda Jail would be shifted to another location and the existing structure would be converted as an education centre.

Owaisi extends support for development

AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who was present at the occasion, stated that the party would extend all necessary support to the Congress government in the development and rejuvenation of the Musi River.

“People of Telangana are residing with peace and harmony. Some forces are trying to disturb it and there is a need to counterattack them,” the MP said and thanked the chief minister for sanctioning Rs 120 crores for the development of the Old City.

Details of Old City metro rail project

The newly laid foundation stone is part of the Phase-I Hyderabad Metro rail works in a 5.5-km stretch from MGBS to Falaknuma, which is part of Corridor-II Green Line, from JBS to Falaknuma. The metro rail alignment would pass through Darulshifa – Purani Haveli – Etebar Chowk – Alijakotla – Mir Momin Daira – Haribowli – Shalibanda – Shamsheergunj – Aliabad and end at Falaknuma Metro Rail station.

The estimated cost of the metro rail project, including road enlargement and utility relocation will be Rs 2,000 crores. There would be four stations: Falaknuma, Shalibanda, Salarjung Museum, and Charminar. Despite the alignment and the stations’ approximate 500-metre distance from the monuments, two of the stations bear the names of the Salarjung Museum and Charminar in honour of their historical significance.