Intensifying Struggle for Metro Rail in Old City

Hyderabad: Agitation programs for extension of the Hyderabad metro rail project to the Old City have intensified.

The leaders of the Old City Metro Rail JAC today warned the BRS government that it would not be spared if it cheated the people of the old city of Hyderabad and added that it would intensify their struggles for the achievement of the metro rail.

They said as part of their protests, a massive dharna would be held at the proposed Falaknuma Metro Rail Depot in the first week of October.

Speaking to media persons at NSS, the leaders of the Old City Metro Rail JAC along with CPI State  secretariat member E.T. Narasimha, CPI Hyderabad district secretary S. TPCC Karwan assembly constituency in-charge Osman-bin-Mohammed Al Hazare, TPCC secretary K. Venkatesh, TTDP State joint secretary Peddoju Ravindra Chari, BRS Old City leaders Sayyid Saleem, CPI Hyderabad district assistant secretary Kamatham Yadagiri, Old City senior Congress leaders Moosa, Haider Jafri and others, E.T. Narasimha said it was atrocious that the State government was delaying the expansion of the metro rail in the old city, which has half of the population of Hyderabad metropolitan area. 

He said CM KCR assured the State Assembly that the expansion of old city metro would be started immediately and added that the State government had sanctioned Rs 500 crore.

He asked the CM as to why the work was not started after allocating the funds and giving instructions to municipal administration officials.

He warned that the government would face resistance if the old city metro connectivity works were stopped under pressure from the MIM, which did not cooperate with the development of the old city.

He said the construction work of the 5.5 km metro rail from MGBS to Falaknuma should be started immediately.

Usman bin Mohammed Al Hajari said MA&UD Minister KTR, who assured to convert the old city into Istanbul city, failed to fulfil his promise.

He alleged that the people in the old city area were facing severe difficulties due to lack of the metro rail connectivity and added that the BRS government was ignoring the promises made to the people of the old city that metro rail would be expanded. He demanded that the metro rail project in the old city should be taken up immediately.

K. Venkatesh said many people from the old city continue to travel long distances every day for their livelihood and added that they were facing severe transportation difficulties due to lack of proper transport facility. 

Peddoju Ravindra Chari said the metro rail would provide a lot of relief to the old city residents, who go to far-flung areas every day.