Union labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya promises to help complete Hyderabad Metro Rail

Speaking to reporters here, he said, “The realignment of Metro on certain stretches will impose an additional financial burden. The Centre had already given Rs 1,458 crore as vialbility gap funding. If the need arises, I will convince the Centre to sanction another Rs 1,500 crore to ensure that the project does not get affected due to financial problems.”

Referring to his priorities as labour minister, Mr Dattatreya said, “I will focus on imparting skills to the nearly 42 crore strong unorganised labour sector. Industry-friendly policies will be promoted to increase industrialisation as that would increase employment.”

He said he would talk to trade unions who have planned a nationwide protest on December 5 against the alleged anti-worker policies of the NDA, and work for a solution. The government is simplifing labour laws and ending arbitrariness in inspections of factories, he said. He said he would work for the welfare of lakhs of beedi workers and others in Telangana.