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Centre steps into Hyderabad Metro Rail project row

L&T has been objecting to realignment of routes on grounds

Hyderabad: The Centre has stepped in to get the Hyderabad Metro Rail project back on fast track. The additional secretary in Union Cabinet Secretariat, Anil Swarup, arrived in Hyderabad on Monday and held a meeting with Telangana chief secretary Rajiv Sharma and officials of L&T and HMR at the Secretariat.

However, L&TMRHL managing director V.B. Gadgil skipped the crucial meeting and project director M.P. Naidu represented L&T. HMR managing director N.V.S. Reddy, senior officials in CMO, TSIIC managing director Dr Jayesh Ran-jan and other senior IAS officials were present.

During the meeting, state officials complained against Mr Gadgil for resorting to “pressure tactics” by leaking confidential letters to the media.

Mr Swarup advised L&T and the Telangana State government to maintain restraint, work with complete coordination and cooperation and complete the project as per schedule. He also asked L&T not to override the state government as it was keen to cooperate fully with L&T to complete the project.

Metro Rail project works have been stalled in various locations in the city after the TS government sought realignment of routes near the Legislative Assembly, Maozam Jahi Market and Sultan Bazaar to save the heritage markets and structures from demolition.

However, L&T has been objecting to realignment of routes on grounds that it would impose a heavy financial burden on the company and also make the project “financially unviable”, besides delaying the project by two more years.

Mr Gadgil had even written to the state government offering to quit from the project last month, which was leaked to the media. The letter had created a flutter and relations between L&T and the state government had soured over the issue.

Dr Sharma brought to the notice of the Centre that the government had been giving “right of way” to L&T on a priority basis in the core areas of the city by diverting traffic and acquiring properties for widening roads to facilitate Metro works.

( Source : dc correspondent )
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