Hyderabad Metro Expansion Faces Funding Roadblock
The Hyderabad Metro Rail expansion project has hit a major roadblock with the Union Budget 2024 failing to allocate any funds for the crucial infrastructure project. This has sparked frustration and disappointment among Telangana officials, particularly Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR).
In a social media post, KTR questioned the value of Telangana's support for the BJP-led NDA government, highlighting the lack of financial support for the metro project despite the state sending eight MPs to the party. He emphasized that numerous requests to the Union government for funding have gone unanswered, creating a stark contrast with the funding provided to 20 other metro rail projects across India over the past decade.
KTR detailed the significant allocations made to other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi, for their respective metro projects. He also pointed out the substantial funding received by states like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. In contrast, the Hyderabad Metro has been completely overlooked, a decision KTR described as both unjust and unfair.
This lack of funding comes at a time when the Hyderabad Metro is facing financial challenges due to a decline in ridership. The daily passenger count has dropped significantly since November 2023, raising concerns for Larsen & Toubro, the company holding a 90% stake in the project. The company is now considering selling its stake due to the financial strain caused by the decline in ridership.
The lack of central government support and the financial challenges faced by the Hyderabad Metro raise serious concerns about the future of the project. It remains to be seen how the Telangana government will address these challenges and ensure the completion of the much-needed metro expansion.