Telangna Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao finally had his way on the prestigious multi-billion dollar Hyderabad Metro Rail Project when the larson & Toubro Company agreed to his demand to change the alignment of the project at three key places.
KCR, who has been under pressure from the Centre and other quarters to not to change the original plans of the Metro Rail, had a review meeting with the l&T Metro Rail project managing director VS Gadgil and Hyderabad Metro Project director NVS Reddy where not only the l&T agreed to realignment but also tendered an apology to the Chief Minister for the anguish caused by the leakage of a letter of the company.
The letter, addressed to the State Government l&T had threatened to withdraw from the project and it had found its way to a section of Telugu media.
An emotional but jubilant Chief Minister lashed out at the “Andhra Media” for its misinformation campaign against Hyderabad Metro Project and creating doubts among the people.
Now the l&T will change the Metro Projects alignment at three places. One line will pass on the backside of the State Assembly instead of the original plan of taking from in front of the Assembly disfiguring the historic building. Second change will be at Sultan Bazar where the traders were up in arms against the line passing in the heart of the busy commercial area. Now, this line will pass along the river Musi instead of the front side of the Women’s College at Kothi. Third change will be in the old city where the line will pass through Kala Pathar area instead of the congested Charminar area.
The Telangana Government has agreed to bear the additional cost of changing the alignment as the company had done considerable work of constructing the pillars for the elevated Metro Rail according to the original plans.
KCR has convened another meeting on November 20 to discuss the issue further and increase the over all length of the project from present 71 kms to 200 kms by launching the second phase.