Leader of Opposition in Telangana State Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir said that the participation of Panchayat Raj Minister K. Tarakarama Rao and other ministers in the test run of Hyderabad Metro Rail was aimed at diverting people’s attention from the delay TRS Government had caused in implementing the project.
Shabbir Ali said KTR’s praise for Metro Rail project was nothing but an endorsement of visionary scheme implemented by the then Congress Government. He reminded that the project, worth Rs. 14,132 Crore, was conceived by the Congress Government and its financial closure was achieved by March 2009. The re-bidding process awarding the contract to L&T was done in July 2010 and the Bhoomi Puja for the project was conducted on 26th April, 2010.
“The project’s first phase should have become operational by last Ugadi. However, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao deliberately delayed the project by raising objections over metro rail route at Sultan Bazar and Assembly building. After almost 18 months, he took a U-turn and gave nod to the original design. The delays have caused losses of over Rs. 2,100 crore. In view of GHMC elections, KTR and other ministers undertook a test run to divert people’s attention from the delays and losses,” Shabbir Ali said.
Shabbir Ali also thanked KTR for praising the project and said he must also thank Congress party for initiating and implementing such a visionary project. “The first pillar of Metro Rail was laid during Congress Rule. Our government faced and overcome several hurdles to execute the project. But TRS Government delayed the project only to prevent Congress from taking credit and now, by undertaking test runs, TRS Ministers are giving an impression as if the project was conceived and implemented by them,” he said.
He also asked KCR to explain how he proposes to recover the losses incurred due to delay in the project. “KCR should punish the engineers and his advisors who misled him on the metro rail design. He must bear the losses if it was his personal or political decision to deliberately delay the project,” he said.
