Cabinet also finalised the state's comprehensive roadmap for the 2027 Census, as mandated by the Central Government
Hyderabad: The Cabinet, at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday, approved the takeover of 69-km Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-I from Larsen & Toubro (L&T) by March 31, end of the current financial year. This will pave the way for rapid expansion of the network under Phase-II as a joint venture between the state government and the Centre.
According to a Cabinet sub-committee that examined the takeover proposal, the government would need to pay nearly ₹15,000 crore, including outstanding liabilities, to L&T to acquire the Phase-I project. The asset valuation of Phase-1 is estimated between ₹19,000 crore and ₹22,000 crore, indicating that the government would be acquiring the project at an approximate 22 per cent discounted value.
According to the Cabinet, the expansion of Metro Rail Phase-II needed to be expedited to address growing traffic congestion. The Centre had indicated that the network must function under a single entity for undertaking Phase-II expansion through a joint venture model. L&T, which operates Phase-I, expressed its reluctance to take up the Phase-II, making the state government takeover of the existing network necessary.
The state government has submitted proposals to the Centre for Metro Phase-II expansion. Under Phase-II A, lines covering 76.4 kilometres across five new corridors have been proposed, while Phase-II B envisages 86.1 kilometres across three additional corridors. The Cabinet expressed the confidence that the takeover decision would accelerate approval and execution of these expansion plans.
In another decision, the Cabinet approved inclusion of four villages — Chittiguda and Yavapur in Nawabpet mandal, and Tekulapalli and Enkatala in Mominpet mandal of Vikarabad district — into the jurisdiction of the HMDA as part of metropolitan expansion.
The Cabinet also cleared implementation of the Comprehensive Road Maintenance Programme (CRMP) Phase-II within Greater Hyderabad limits under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The project will cover maintenance and development of an additional 300 kilometres of roads, over the 744 kilometres taken up under Phase-I, at an estimated cost of ₹3,145 crore funded through GHMC resources.
Further, approval was granted for modernisation of the Manjeera Water Supply Scheme Phases I and II at a cost of ₹722 crore based on proposals submitted by the HMWS&SB. The Cabinet also sanctioned ₹282 crore for modernisation of Osmansagar drinking water pipelines to address nearly 30 per cent water loss caused by ageing pipelines and pump houses, aiming to improve water supply across the city.
The Cabinet approved allocation of 153 acres of land in Kapra mandal to the defence ministry as equal-value land in exchange for 42 acres of defence land acquired for construction of elevated corridors in Hyderabad passing through Secunderabad Cantonment area towards Medchal (NH44) and Karimnagar (Rajiv Rahadari)
It also cleared allocation of land at Kokapet in Gandipet mandal to the HMWS&SB for developing water supply infrastructure at Neopolis, while approving allotment of alternative land to the Sharada Peetham.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved auctioning of shops constructed near double-bedroom housing units in CURE areas and decided to undertake a special drive for construction of Indiramma houses in both rural and urban areas, while exploring avenues to mobilise maximum central funds for the housing programme.
