'MMTS phase II on track'

Phase II of the MMTS was on schedule and about 10-12 per cent of the allotted Rs.880 crore had been spent so far, said General Manager of South Central Railway (SCR) P.K. Srivastava.

With the exception of the airport connectivity, all other works were progressing as scheduled, he said after inaugurating the re-modelled station building at the Lingampally MMTS station recently.

Rail connectivity to the airport could not be provided as the GMR Group, which runs the city’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad, was unwilling to provide approach rights citing security concerns, said General Manager of South Central Railway (SCR) P.K. Srivastava.

“Phase II of the Multi-Modal Transit System (MMTS) is my dream project, particularly the airport connectivity part of it. Unfortunately, GMR is not ready to allow access into the airport, citing security reasons. I do not know what security problems such access will create. In the best of international airports the world over, seamless connectivity is the norm,” he said after inaugurating the re-modelled station building at the Lingampally MMTS station recently.

“As of the now, revised estimates of the MMTS Phase II work out to Rs.880 crore. I would only need to spend about Rs.40 crore more to take air passengers right up to the baggage check-in counters or as close to them. If GMR does not give us access, it will greatly inconvenience passengers. Once they get off the local train, they should be able to wheel their baggage on a trolley directly to the check-in counters,” he said.

MLC N. Ramchander Rao and Serilingampalli MLA A. Gandhi were also present on the occasion, when a platform cover and a foot over-bridge were also unveiled as part of the Indian Railways’ ‘Passenger and Customer Facilitation Fortnight’ celebrations.

Earlier in the day, the SCR General Manager travelled on board an MMTS train from Secunderabad to Lingampally and interacted with passengers, who suggested that toilets and drinking water be made available in the coaches. They also requested that the seats be improved.

Hindu