'Step-Motherly Treatment': KTR Writes To Centre Over Rejection Of Hyderabad Metro Phase II Proposal

KTR said that it was strange that the Government of India which had sanctioned Metro projects to many cities with less traffic had felt that Hyderabad does not qualify for a Metro Rail project. 

Telangana IT minister KT Rama Rao wrote a letter to the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri over the rejection of the Hyderabad Metro phase II proposal and asked to reconsider the Centre’s decision. 

KT Rama Rao, popularly known as KTR, said that it was strange that the Centre, which had sanctioned Metro projects in several cities, had felt that Hyderabad does not qualify for a metro rail project. 

Responding to the Telangana government's letter to extend financial assistance to the Hyderabad Metro phase-II projects, the Centre had said, “The PHPDT (Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic) and ridership are very less and do not justify Metro Rail project at this juncture.”

KTR asked how small cities of UP like Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur, Agra, Prayagraj, Meerut qualified for metro projects. "This is nothing but pure discrimination and step-motherly treatment to Hyderabad and Telangana," KTR said. 

The minister pointed out that his multiple attempts to meet Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to explain the importance of Hyderabad Metro phase II went in vain.

"Given your professional background, I had hoped that you would ensure the fair and objective treatment of our infrastructure development proposals without any bias or prejudice," KTR mentioned in his letter to Puri. 

The BRS leader also stated that the state government was more than willing to clarify any doubts the Centre had on the project and requested an appointment with Hardeep Singh Puri.

“Nevertheless, I would once again urge you to get the Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II project proposal examined dispassionately on the merits of DPR and have it approved at an early date,” KTR added.