Warangal Metro Rail project sidelines after 11 months of Congress govt promises
The state government is eager to advance the Hyderabad Metro Phase II project, estimated to cost Rs. 24,269 crore, with the state cabinet recently approving it for collaboration with the Centre. However, there is a noticeable lack of enthusiasm regarding the Metro project for Warangal city.
Hyderabad: The Congress government had made many promises to Warangal City, especially with regard to overall development and to improve road and transportation infrastructure. It has been nearly 11 months since the Congress government came to power, but the Warangal Metro rail project continues to be sidelined, despite the previous government preparing the groundwork and seeking the Centre’s support.
The State government is meanwhile keen on taking up the Hyderabad Metro phase II with an estimated cost of Rs.24,269 crore. The State cabinet has recently approved the project to be taken up under collaboration with the Centre. However, the same enthusiasm is lacking towards taking up the Metro project in Warangal city. During his visits to Warangal, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had assured comprehensive development of the city, which is the second largest after Hyderabad in the State. Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, incharge Minister of the city, had conducted a review meetings in the past and reviewed different projects, including a master plan for 2050.
Considering the increasing public transportation requirements in Warangal, the BRS government had proposed to take up Metro Neo, a Mass Rapid Transit System. Unlike Hyderabad Metro, the Metro Neo was proposed to be equipped with different technology and signaling system. It would have articulated rubber-wheeled electric coach system, which is generally called Metro Neo system. The System has articulated electric coaches with overhead traction system, which will run on partially elevated and partially at Grade Corridor (ground level).
The Warangal Metro was proposed to be operated on a corridor covering 15.5 km on the Kazipet-Hanamkonda-Warangal Via DPO junction route. Of these, the Metro Neo was to be operated on At Grade Corridor for 7.1 km and on elevated Corridor for 8.4 km. It was designed with traffic handling capacity with upto 15,000 PHPDT and maximum design speed of kmph.
The Detailed Project Report was prepared and several requests were made to the Centre to extend assistance for the project. Former Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao had personally taken up the issue with union Ministers, yet the BJP-led NDA government did not consider the BRS government’s appeals.
The Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA) had appointed the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited to examine the feasibility for an MRTS in Warangal. Subsequently, the DPR was prepared in conformity with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs guidelines. It had also prepared the DPR for Nashik Metro as well.
