Hyderabad, July 28: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday gave an assurance that the old city of Hyderabad will get Metro Rail connectivity in four years.
Speaking in the Assembly, he told All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi that the old city will get Metro rail before next elections.
“I will come to Chandrayangutta by Metro rail for campaigning,” Revanth Reddy said while responding to AIMIM leader’s speech during discussion on state budget.
Chandrayangutta is the Assembly constituency of Akbaruddin Owaisi.
“Old city is not an old habitation in Hyderabad. It is the original city,” said the Chief Minister.
He recalled that it was Jaipal Reddy, who, as Union Minister for Urban development, provided the Viability Gap Fund for the construction of Hyderabad Metro Rail.
Revanth Reddy said that during the 10-year rule, the previous BRS government failed to extend Metro Rail services to the old city. He said the BRS government had also promised to turn the old city into Istanbul but did nothing.
Soon after coming to power, the Congress government laid the foundation stone for Metro Rail in the old city. My government has taken the responsibility of completing the old city Metro rail project in four years, he said.
The state government has allocated Rs.500 crore for Metro Rail project in Hyderabad in the budget for 2024-25.
The Chief Minister said the state government has also submitted a report to the Centre for Metro Rail second phase project in Hyderabad on a 78 km stretch.
The discussion on debate saw an interesting exchange of words between Revanth Reddy and Akbaruddin Owaisi.
When the AIMIM leader criticised the Chief Minister for calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘bade bhai’, the latter defended his words. “Whether someone likes it or not, Modi is the Prime Minister. He is like an elder brother for all states. I requested him to allocate funds to Telangana at par with Gujarat and Bihar. I urged him to act like an elder brother without any discrimination. I did not say this in anybody’s ear. I said this openly at a public meeting in Adilabad,” he said.
In a friendly exchange, Revanth Reddy invited Akbaruddin Owaisi to join Congress party, and offered to make him Deputy Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister advised the AIMIM leader to resign from Chandrayangutta and contest from Kodangal constituency (which is currently represented by the Chief Minister). “Come and join the Congress party. I will take the responsibility of your election to the Assembly from Kodangal. I am ready to become your chief election agent,” he said.
Responding to this offer, Akbaruddin Owaisi said he was happy with AIMIM. “I am happy with AIMIM and will remain with AIMIM till my last breath,” he said.
