'Blatant discrimination', KTR on Centre's no to second phase

[Anta Assamey]

Telangana Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K.T. Rama Rao on Tuesday took strong objection to the decision of the BJP-led government at the Centre to reject the proposal for second phase of Hyderabad Metro, calling it "blatant discrimination".

Rama Rao wrote a letter to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to reconsider the Centre's decision.A

Reacting to media reports that the Centre declined to approve the extension of Metro from Lakdikapul to BHEL and Nagole to LB Nagar on the grounds of feasibility, the minister said that it was strange that the Centre which had sanctioned Metro projects to many cities with less traffic 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 project, the Union ministry said:

"The PHPDT (Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic) and ridership is very less and does not justify Metro Rail project at this juncture."

Not mincing any words, KTR, as the minister is popularly known, said that it was nothing but blatant discrimination against Telangana.

"If the traffic of Hyderabad's high density corridors does not qualify for a Metro Rail project, I wonder how a number of small cities of UP like Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur, Agra, Prayagraj, Meerut and cities located in some of their favoured states get qualified. This is nothing but pure discrimination and step-motherly treatment to Hyderabad and Telangana," he said.

The minister pointed out that his multiple attempts to meet Puri to explain the importance of Hyderabad Metro Phase II went in vain.

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

KTR stated that the state government was more than willing to clarify any doubts the Centre has on the project and requested an appointment with the Union Minister.

"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," he added.