The orders issued by the State government on Tuesday for funding two-thirds of the cost of Hyderabad's Multi Modal Transport System (MMTS) Phase II is expected to expedite the implementation of the long-awaited project.
Although Chief Minister K. Rosaiah had addressed a letter to the Railway Ministry offering to share Rs. 456 crore out of the cost of Rs. 641 crore for Phase II, the South Central Railway (SCR) insisted on a GO to back this commitment.
Going by the GO, the Railway Board, will soon give its approval and seek clearance from the Planning Commission.
Budget proposal
T. Stanley Babu, Advisor, Municipal Administration & Infrastructure, who earlier served as General Manager, SCR, told this correspondent here on Wednesday that once the Planning Commission gives its approval, “a foregone conclusion now”, the Phase II might be projected in the Railways' supplementary budget in December.
Thereupon, the works would be started with the aim of completing the project in three years. Nonetheless, establishment of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) is seen as necessary for a speedier execution of Phase II as a profitable venture as, the SCR has too many responsibilities.
The government and the SCR signed the MoU on Phase II long ago but they have not made any move so far to float an SPV.
106 km
The MMTS Phase II will cover a distance of 106 km, connecting Falaknuma, Umdanagar with Shamshabad International Airport (20 km); Secunderabad with Bolarum and Medchal (28 km); Secunderabad with Ghatkesar (19 km); Moula Ali with Sanathnagar (21 km); Kacheguda with Sitaphalmandi, Malkajgiri and Moula Ali (10km); and Telapur with Patancheru (10 km).
