Hyderabad's party reps discuss metro project with Sreedharan

New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) Party Legislators and MPs from Hyderabad today had a detailed discussion with Delhi Metro Chief E Sreedharan about the finer aspects of implementing the Rs 7,000 crore Metro project in their city.

The delegation led by Andhra Pradesh Information and Power Minister Mohammad Ali Shabir, who is in charge of development in Hyderabad, travelled on the Dwarka-Connaught place line here, to get a feel of the implementation of the project.

''We are only a study team and not a decision making body'', Mr Ali told reporters after his discussions with the Delhi Metro Chief.

The Minister said the presence of the representatives of all political parties in the state assembly, was a clear indicator that there was unanimity in delivering development to the people who were experiencing huge traffic jams and narrow roads.

They deserve a good reliable and sustainable transport system, he said.

He added that discussions with Mr Sreedharan was an eye-opener as the delegation was told that it was possible to implement the project within four years, under public-private partnership.

The state government had sent its preliminary proposal to the Centre which had appreciated the Build-Own-Transfer (BOT) model system and neutrality approach.

The process of evaluation and selection of the BOT developer would be in September 2006. The leaders will be meeting Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy for speeding up the approval process from the Centre tomorrow.

Explaining the details of the Hyderabad Metro Project, Director N V S Reddy said the Detailed Project Report on two of the three lines by the Delhi Metro was complete and the third route was under progress.

In the first phase it would have three routes Miyapur-Nampalli -Chaitanyapuri (26 kms and 25 stations), Secundarabad-Charminar- Falaknma (13 kms and 14 stations) and Tarnaka-Ameerpet-Hitec City -Shilparamam (21 kms).

The government had elicited a good response from national and international business houses and six consortia had been pre-qualified for the execution of the project under BOT.

The Centre and the state Governments will be providing 40 per cent of the project costs (Rs 2,800 crores) under the Jawaharlal Urban Renewal Mission while the remaining costs will have to be brought in by the BOT developer.

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