BRS raises transparency concerns on Musi riverfront and Metro deal

KTR criticised the Congress government over the Musi project, Metro takeover and Future City plan, raising concerns on transparency, land use and selective action, while Minister Sridhar Babu defended the decisions and rejected allegations.

Hyderabad: BRS working president and Sircilla MLA KT Rama Rao mounted a blistering attack on the Congress government in the Assembly, questioning the transparency and intent behind the Musi Riverfront project, Metro Rail takeover, and the proposed “Future City.”

During the discussion in the Assembly on Thursday late night, Rama Rao raised issues of the Musi project and sought to know whether Detailed Project Report (DPR) had been prepared. “If it exists, table it. Otherwise, the government is misleading the Assembly,” he said.

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He challenged the claim of a 50-metre buffer zone, pointing to notices issued to over 10,000 properties across 3,796 acres. He alleged that structures built with official permissions were now being branded illegal and targeted for demolition.

Accusing the government of selective justice, the BRS leader questioned why properties linked to ruling party leaders were spared while those of the poor and middle class faced action. He questioned how properties of the poor in bufferzone were illegal and the proposed construction of commercial establishments as part of Musi Riverfront Development project were legal.

On the Hyderabad Metro, he disputed Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s claim that taking over L&T’s Rs 15,000 crore loan was unavoidable, arguing the Centre had earlier allowed private participation in Metro airport connectivity proposals by the previous BRS government. He suspected that encroachment of over 280 acres leased to L&T to be real motive.

Rama Rao also flagged the Future City plan, questioning how the government would expand from 14,000 acres acquired for Pharma City to 30,000 acres. He said the land acquisition was conditional and it cannot be used for any other purposes.

Responding, Minister D Sridhar Babu said the Musi DPR was under vetting by the Asian Development Bank and would be made public. He defended eviction drives as lawful and humanitarian, and justified the Metro takeover as beneficial, involving assets worth Rs 27,000 crore. He dismissed allegations of ulterior motives.