BJP stages walk out over Metro Rail in Old City

Hyderabad: Failing to get an assurance and proper reply from the Municipal Administration Minister K. Tarakarama Rao over starting the works of Metro Rail in Old City, the BJP members led by its floor leader G. Kishan Reddy, staged a walkout from the Assembly.

The BJP members wanted the minister to specify the date when works on Metro Rail in the Old City would begin. However, KTR evaded a direct reply said that the works would be taken up in the next expansion programme. Not satisfied with the reply, the BJP MLAs staged a walkout from the House.

Earlier, while replying to a question, when the minister claimed that under Phase-1 of project, works in JBS-Falaknuma corridor are going on at a brisk pace, the members expressed surprise when they heard the Minister saying works is in progress in brisk pace, which meant huge construction activity is going on. The members pointed out when they do not see any labour working or any material.

He further said that 25 sensitive structures, which are mostly religious buildings, would have been affected by the Metro Rail alignment between MGBS and Falaknuma. Through engineering solutions, this number has been brought down to 4. Enough care will be taken during construction that no damage will be done even to those four structures, he said.