Metro Will Be Extended To Suburban Areas: Tummala

Roads & Buildings Minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao on Thursday informed the Telangana Legislative Assembly that the state government intended to expand the Metro Rail coverage to the suburban areas of Hyderabad.

Replying to a question raised by MLA M Sudheer Reddy and others during Question Hour, the minister said that the proposed suburban services included Falaknuma - Shamshabad; Tarnaka - ECIL; L B Nagar - Hayath Nagar; Miyapur - Patancheru; Jubilee Bus Stand - Alwal; and Nagole - L B Nagar. However, preliminary proposals on these routes were yet to be prepared, he said.

The minister also informed that the issues related to the Metro Rail works near the Assembly building, and at Sultan Bazar and the Old City were still under consideration.

He said that the study was on to extend the metro services to Kalapather PS - Aliabad Water Reservoir - Falaknuma. He said that a decision on this route would be taken only upon the receipt of the feasibility report and after holding consultations with the local elected representatives.

Clarifying on the launch of the metro rail, Tummala said that there was no agreement with L&T that the first phase would be launched by Ugadi. However, at the state government's instance, L&T had agreed to launch the first phase (Nagole - Mettuguda) by Ugadi, but it had been put off due to technical reasons.

Speaking on the issue, MLA Sudhir Reddy demanded the metro rail services on the Ghatkesar - Medchal routes in view of traffic problems. MIM MLA Maozam Khan asked when the works on the metro rail would begin in the Old City. He also sought updates on the MIM's proposal on the new corridor. He alleged that the government was deliberately neglecting the Old City.

BJP floor leader Dr. K Lakshman condemned the postponement of the first phase of the metro rail, and said that L&T had successfully conducted trail runs on the Nagole - Mettuguda route. He too sought clarification on the status of the metro rail project in the Old City. (INN)