Hyderabad
Telangana government on Thursday requested for allocation of Rs 7,778 crore funds in the upcoming Union Budget for various works taken up under the Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department in the State.
In a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Telangana State Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) K T Rama Rao (KTR) said the projects for which funds are being sought including for Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), a Metro Neo network along the KPHB-Kokapet-Narsingi Corridor; Strategic Road Development Program (SRDP) Phase -2, Musi River Front Development and East West Expressway, development of elevated corridors; Warangal Metro Neo Project; STP Projects: phase-1 within Hyderabad, sewer network projects, STP projects covering upto Outer Ring Road (ORR) and construction of missing link roads in Hyderabad.
While the preliminary estimates for the MRTS project is Rs 3050 crore, the Minister requested the Union Government to sanction 15 percent of the project cost Rs 450 crore. This will be about 30 kms long with an expected ridership of 5 lakhs by 2030 and will have connectivity with the proposed Airport express at Narsingi and with the existing Metro network at the Financial Dist.
Requesting for sanction of funds for Warangal Metro-Neo project, amounting to Rs 184 Crores, the Minister stated that this project would be a major milestone in public transport in a Tier II city, and requested that the Union Government for sanction of 20 per cent on the total project cost.
“The state government is exploring the possibility of manufacturing Metro-Neo coaches in Telangana in conformity to Gol policy of "Make in India" and "Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan," Mr KTR said..
The Minister also stated that the Government of Telangana has embarked on several initiatives like Strategic Road Development Program, Model Corridors Development & Hyderabad Road Development to improve the Transport network not only in Hyderabad but in Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration (HUA).
Minister KTR mentioned that a total of 22 missing link roads were taken up and completed. while another 17 such link roads are at various stages of completion.
Further, to extend the missing link Connectivity/Improvement and Comprehensive Development up to Outer Ring Road including the surrounding ULBs, a total of 104 additional Corridors are identified to take up with an estimated amount of Rs 2,400 Crore. These connecting roads are proving to be the lifeline of urban mobility, he said in the letter.
He requested the Union Government to support the Telangana Government by extending a contribution of Rs 800 Crore , one third of the project cost.
Explaining the need for other projects under the SRDP and its importance in building the road network to boost economic growth of the nation, the Minister stated that the SRDP based on a Comprehensive Transportation study (CTS) has prioritized high priority road project for Greater Hyderabad which comprises of Skywalks (100 Km), Major corridors (166 Km), Major Roads (348 Km), other roads (about 1400 Km) and Grade Separators/Flyovers keeping in mind the larger vision to make Hyderabad as Global Smart City keeping the future needs in mind.
Under 1st Phase of SRDP an amount of Rs 5,937 crore was raised by term loan from financial institutions and from sale of Municipal Bonds and the same is nearing completion, he said in the letter.