‘Scrap Metro rail agreement’

HYDERABAD: The State government’s concession agreement with the Maytas Metro Rail Limited for the construction of the Metro Rail corridor in the city should be scrapped immediately in view of the opacity being maintained regarding the project, the Citizens for a Better Public Transport in Hyderabad (CBPTH) demanded on Monday.
Public kept in dark

Speaking to press persons, convener of the organisation C. Ramachandraiah criticised the government for “keeping the public totally in dark” about the concessions offered to the private consortium. “The agreement, for example, provides for the extension of lease duration by one year for every one per cent reduction in the estimated ridership of 15.5 lakh passengers a day, subject to a maximum extension of six years.

Considering the overestimated passenger traffic, the agreement can be said to have already extended by six years,” he said. The government went ahead with signing of the pact even before getting the environment clearance, or responding to the court notices in the context of the public interest litigation filed last month.

He alleged that Maytas got the contract through the inclusion of a Bangkok-based company Italthai in the consortium, but reduced the company’s share to five per cent after clinching the project,” he said.