Hyderabad: The prestigious Hyderabad Metro Rail project is adding to the financial burden on the cash-strapped state government. The project cost has mounted to Rs 18,829 crore from Rs15, 073 crore.
Project concessionaire L&T has asked the Telangana State government to pay the additional amount of Rs 3,756 crore to complete the project. L&T managing director and chief executive officer Shivanand Nimbargi has written to the TS government on this issue.
On March 24, 2017, TS Chief Secretary S.P. Singh held a meeting with Hyderabad Metro Rail and L&T representatives. L&T representatives said the project cost had gone up and asked for additional funds. Mr Singh asked them for cost break-up of the additional financial support, which was complied with.
L&T had written earlier to the government on August 17, 2016, requesting for the additional money as the cost of project had increased. But there was no response.
Mr Nimbargi said the delay in Right of Way (ROW) beyond May 2017 would lead to additional cost impact. He said the Raidurg extension will be at additional cost as per change of scope, adding that this increased cost of the project was as of March 31, 2017.
According to the physical progress report sent by L&T, only depot equipment work has been completed. The rest of the work such as construction of stations, track work, signalling, security equipment and others are at various stages, ranging from 25 per cent to 90 per cent.
This is the first time in India that a project is being implemented with communication-based train control (CBTC) technology.
