HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Thursday said that the Built, Operate and Transfer (BOT) developers for the proposed Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for the twin cities would be finalised shortly to enable the works to commence during the current year.

Replying to a letter from former Congress Legislature Party leader and Khairatabad MLA P. Janardhan Reddy, he said once the BOT developers were identified, the technical and financial bids would be invited and the project works would commence immediately. Mr. Janardhan Reddy in his letter dated February 14 had said that none of the city MLAs had been consulted nor any trip organised to study the Delhi Metro Rail System.

The Chief Minister said that the previous Government had asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to prepare a report on metro rail on two corridors — Miyapur-Chaitanyapuri and Secunderabad- Falaknuma — which were not taken up.

Despite severe financial constraints, perceived non-viability and demolitions involved, it was the present Government, which took a decision to expand the scope of the project by including one more corridor — Tarnaka-Hitec City — and initiated steps for implementing it on BOT basis.

The Public Private Partnership (PPP) model chosen for Hyderabad MRTS was supported by the Planning Commission and the Centre for infrastructure projects. It was not advisable to go in for development of one corridor with Government funding and other on BOT basis. The Government took a conscious decision to go in for PPP model on BOT basis.

Seven consortia apply

The global Expression of interest-cum-Request for qualification floated by the Government with stringent technical and financial conditions had evoked good response and seven consortia consisting of leading global MRTS players and big business houses have applied for pre-qualification, he said.

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