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Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader Ravula Sridhar Reddy on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on both the state and the Centre over issues related to the Hyderabad Metro Rail takeover and Phase-II planning, asserting that the people of Telangana are tired of these "blame games" between Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He alleged confusion and delays in the process and accused both the Revanth Reddy-led state government and the centre of indulging in "blame games". He also demanded accountability from the authorities. This comes after the long-pending Hyderabad Metro Rail expansion has been delayed further, as both the Centre and the Telangana government have decided to appoint SBI Capital Markets (SBI Caps) to carry out a fresh valuation of Phase I and assess proposals for Phase II, which envisions an expanded network of up to seven corridors covering 122 km. The SBICAPS, which has been selected as the consultant, will conduct a comprehensive study on the valuation of Metro Rail Phase-I, the expansion of Phase-II, and other related matters. The state government and the Centre will decide the future course of the action plan based on the report submitted by the consultant. Speaking to ANI on the issue, the BRS leader said, "Both the state government and the central government made this entire Hyderabad metro takeover and phase II planning a joke. People need answers. People of Telangana are tired of these blame games between Congress and the BJP." He also questioned the change of transaction advisors and delays in funding approvals. "I don't understand why there is a change in the consultant from IDBI to SBI Caps. Whether the loan of 13,400 crores is coming today or not...as per the media reports, it is completely stopped now, and the entire process will start again...already, per day, the state government is losing money in the management of this metro...I demand a press conference from the Chief Minister and the central government nodal agency," he added. Reddy further demanded clarity from both the Telangana Chief Minister and concerned central agencies over the status of the project, urging them to address a press conference to address public concerns regarding delays and financial implications linked to the metro rail operations and expansion plans. Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar paved a clear path forward for the future of the Hyderabad Metro Rail. The high-level meetings held on June 23, which included engagements with Union Minister for Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Union Minister for Coal and Mines Kishan Reddy, resulted in a strategic consensus to accelerate both the takeover of the Metro Rail Phase-I and the implementation of the ambitious Phase-II project. To ensure a data-driven and transparent process, the State and Union Governments have collectively appointed SBICAPS as the official consultant. The consultant has been tasked with a comprehensive mandate, including: Phase-I valuation by conducting a detailed study on the valuation of the existing Hyderabad Metro Phase-I; identifying necessary loans and selecting optimal lending agencies for the takeover process; providing a detailed analysis of expansion routes, construction costs, and sustainable financing models for the proposed Phase-II project. To streamline the project's momentum, both tiers of government have established a formal liaison structure. A senior official from the Union Government and the Special Chief Secretary of the State's Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department have been appointed as coordinating members. This team will work in tandem with SBICAPS to facilitate the study, ensure the timely flow of information, and expedite official procedures. (ANI)
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