Railways give Rs 80 Cr exemption for Metro Rail project

Hyderabad, Jan 23 (INN): As a sequel to the meeting between Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on January 19, wherein KCR brought to the notice on the the demands of South Central Railway for payment of ‘Traffic Block’ charges for permitting Metro works at Railway crossings, Suresh Prabhu got the issue resolved at jet speed.

The Railway Board has now clarified to SCR that Railways shall encourage development of Metro / Suburban rail projects by not levying ‘Traffic Block’ charges towards detention of wagons and passenger trains. The Board accordingly advised the SCR that Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd shall be exempted from such ‘Traffic Block’ charges.

This decision of Railway Board quickens construction of 8 Metro Rail Over Bridges (ROBs) at different locations in twin cities and facilitates speeding up of the project. This decision will save HMR / Government of Telangana about Rs.80 Cr (@ Rs.10 Cr per crossing).

KCR thanked the Railway Minister for resolving the issue immediately. The Metro corridors cross the tracks of Indian Railways at 8 locations – Alugaddabavi, Mettuguda, Oliphanta Bridge, Bhoiguda, Begumpet, Bharat Nagar, Lakdikapul and Malakpet. The urgent Bharat Nagar Metro crossing works will immediately be taken up along with other high priority Metro crossing works at Mettuguda and Alugaddabavi in coordination with the SCR authorities, said HMR MD NVS Reddy.