The prestigious MMTS-Phase 2 project gets a shot in the arm with `99 crores allotted in Railway Budget for this financial year. This is roughly 50 percent of the total one-third contribution that is to be made for the project by the Indian Railways. With the revised fares, the minimum metro fare has also been increased from the present amount of Rs 2 to Rs 5. Also nine new stations are to be added. MMTS travellers expressed delight to such a huge allocation after eight railway budgets.
Meanwhile, expansion of MMTS Phase 2, covering 103 kilometers has been sanctioned in the budget as well. For strengthening of the suburban network within Hyderabad-Secunderabad area under the Phase 2 of the project, doubling and electrification of 22 km between Moula Ali and Sanathnagar, 10 km between Moula Ali, Malkajgiri and Sitaphalmandi, 28 km between Secunderabad, Bolarum and Medchal, 20 km on the new line between Falaknuma, Umdanagar and Shamshabad has been sanctioned.
The new line connecting Shamshabad and Falak-numa is expected to be a crucial one providing connectivity with the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA). Quadrupling and electrification of 12.2 Kms between Moula-Ali-Ghatkesar and restoration of old line between Telapur-Patancheru have been sanctioned. Meanwhile, reacting to the budget sanctions the MMTS Travelers Group members said that the mention of MMTS after almost eight railway budgets tabled in the parliament is delightful. “It is good to see the allocation of funds also for MMTS apart from just making an announcement to appease the public. We would request the State Government to issue necessary orders for the release of funds as its share to expedite the work,” said Vijayaraghavan K. a representative of the group.