Time is running out for Hyderabad’s metro rail ambitions, prompting Union Minister G Kishan Reddy to fire off an impassioned plea to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Focusing on the thorniest issue—land acquisition—the letter seeks to galvanize state efforts for the transformative Phase-II and beyond.
Critical segments of the 52-km expansion, including links to the airport and outer ring road, languish due to acquisition bottlenecks. Farmers and landowners cite inadequate compensation and procedural delays, while HMRL grapples with escalating costs now exceeding initial estimates by 30%.
Kishan Reddy, a vocal advocate for Telangana’s growth, outlined a multi-pronged strategy in his communication. This includes prioritizing negotiations with affected parties, utilizing the Land Acquisition Act’s urgency clauses, and integrating social impact assessments to build community buy-in. He reminded the CM of the Centre’s 18,000 crore commitment, ready for deployment.
The stakes are enormous: a seamless metro could slash commute times by 40%, decongest roads carrying 50 lakh vehicles daily, and spur satellite townships. Business chambers like FICCI have echoed Reddy’s urgency, projecting 5 lakh direct and indirect jobs from accelerated rollout.
As monsoon season approaches—further complicating groundwork—Revanth Reddy’s response will signal his administration’s infrastructure mettle. Will decisive reforms clear the path, or will Hyderabad join the ranks of cities plagued by unfinished transit promises? The minister’s intervention spotlights a rare bipartisan push for progress.