L&T & HMR Condemn ABN’s Propaganda About Halting Hyderabad Metro Project

Taken aback by wild rumor-mongering of ABN and Andhrajyothy media house that they are ‘quitting’ the Hyderabad Metro Project, HMR MD NVS Reddy and MP Naidu Project Director at L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd, issued public statements that the propaganda is ridiculous. They pointed out that the Telangana Government didn’t even officially convey to them their proposed revisions to the metro rail project, so they wondered how can the media house come up with those wild speculations. They reiterated L&T’s commitment to the metro project and said they have no second thoughts on going ahead. 

They pointed out that the works are going at brisk pace. They are working on good timeline with regard to the trial run for Corridor-3′s Stage-1 between Nagole and Mettuguda, they said. They got the trains ahead of schedule and in a press release last week they mentioned how the CM congratulated them on getting ahead of schedule for trial run preparations in the Stage-1. Mr Naidu mentioned that they completed 50% of works for Corridors 1 and 3, while they are picking up pace in Corridor 2.

Setting the record straight, in view of the rumors, they said they have written to the Government with regard to the Chief Minister’s comments in the assembly session that the metro has to go underground at historical locations like the assembly. CM KCR even mentioned how even the Bangalore metro managed to save Bangalore’s heritage while criss-crossing the city. L&T mentioned that they have written to the Principal Secretary of the Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department seeking clarification and details on the views expressed by the Chief Minister. However, L&T mentioned that the Government has not replied back and is yet to make solid proposals on revision of alignment and the underground plans. If any proposals come up, they should obviously be backed by an expert committee which can decide the feasibilities and the cost escalations. There is a due process associated with it, HMR said.  L&T mentioned nothing happened on that front so the whole story of them and Govt. being at loggerheads is a concocted story.

Looks like ABN is bit by the boycott in Telangana and decided to fight back in this way, by unleashing propaganda that prestigious projects in Telangana are set to fail because of the Government. The Hyderabad Metro is the largest project undertaken in public-private partnership and making this controversial serves ABN’s purpose.