The Metro Rail project, when it was envisaged as a public-private partnership 10 years ago, it got 12 acres of land free-of-cost from Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
The land was given in prime locations in the heart of the city, without any financial consideration whatsoever, as it was envisaged as a public transport system.
Ranging between 0.5 acres to 2 acres, the land was given in 10 parcels, near Assembly, Khairatabad, Nampally, Osmania Medical College, Secunderabad, Jubilee Hills Checkpost, Madhapur Police Station, Paradise, and two locations at Malakpet.
Ostensibly, the land was transferred for creation of stations, parking and circulation areas for the project, through an order on January 9, 2008. Calculated at the present rates, the price of the land forgone would run into crores of rupees.
While the land was given free of cost, the State Government had later forfeited its say on the Metro Rail fares to suit the purse of the common man, as the concessionaire agreement was rendered invalid after the project was brought under the Central Metro Act.
The fares originally fixed as part of the agreement were much lower than the current fares fixed by the concessionaire L&T recognised as the Metro Rail Administrator under the Metro Act.
The free transfer of land came out when a question was raised in the GHMC general body meeting on Thursday by corporator Vijaya Laxmi R. Gadwal, representing Banjara Hills.
She observed that the concessionaire must be considerate to the needs of senior citizens and the poor in terms of fare, after having availed such transfer of government land.
