Hyderabad Metro Rail project will be built in contentious sections across the three corridors only after a majority of affected property owners or businessmen are suitably rehabilitated, asserted Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development M. Maheedhar Reddy on Friday.
“There is no need for any apprehensions about the project. It is not necessary for ‘others' to agitate for the cause of the affected persons as the government is taking steps to rehabilitate them like constructing alternative commercial complexes or buildings,” he said.
Addressing a press conference after inspecting the ongoing works at Uppal depot, Mr. Reddy pointed out that the citizens were eagerly looking forward to an efficient public transport system like the metro rail and were “confident” as well as “determined” to see it through.
Exponential growth of vehicular traffic over the years has made it imperative for the government to choose metro rail as it was non-polluting too. He decried attempts to “put obstacles” across the project path, but was sure these would be overcome.
Some persons and groups were trying to run it down without understanding the public purpose behind the project. Heritage activists should also not worry as the metro rail lines would be at a “safe distance” from protected structures, he said.
Hailing the Uppal farmers' initiative in giving up their agriculture activity for the project, he assured them that steps would be expedited to provide basic amenities at 1,000 sq.yards plots given to them. Mr. Reddy dismissed the talk about alignment changes. “It is an elevated rail track and not a road to twist and turn,” he exclaimed.
Legal tangles, including that of the Miyapur depot, would be sorted out soon. The L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail should consider providing jobs to the local people too to garner greater cooperation, he added.
Earlier, L&THMR MD V.B. Gadgil said his firm was geared up for the challenge of building a world class metro rail system and the biggest public, private partnership project anywhere in the world.
