Rail projects held up as State fails to pay up

If MMTS Phase Two project is a classic case of a joint venture between railways and government caught in a blind alley, there are other cost-sharing projects either moving at a snail’s pace or are stalled. This is due to delays in land acquisition and funds from respective governments of both Telugu states.

Inside Telangana, the 151-km Manoharabad–Kothapalli new line project was cleared in 2006-07 for ₹1,160 crore with government accepting one-third cost and providing land free and free annuity for first five years after commissioning. First section of 32-km Manoharabad-Gajwel is done and railways has allotted ₹325 crore in the current budget. Parts of around 2,681.73 acres of revenue land and 5.43 acres forest land in Siddipet, Medak, Rajanna Siricilla and Karimnagar handed over, although funds release “is not on par with the expenditure incurred by us”, reveal senior railway officials.