Hyderabad: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy rejected Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s allegations that the Centre was deliberately delaying the Hyderabad Metro refinancing loan. He said the delay was due to technical issues and not political reasons.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Kishan Reddy said Metro rail corporations across the country prioritize operations and maintenance expenses before repaying loans. He explained that revenue generated through Metro services should first be used to ensure smooth operations and maintenance.
According to the Union Minister, the Telangana government wanted loan repayments to be given priority using Metro revenues. However, he maintained that operational requirements must come first to protect the long-term sustainability of the Metro system.
Kishan Reddy said he had conveyed this position during discussions, but the State government did not agree with the proposal. He termed the Chief Minister’s allegations as baseless and asked him to substantiate the claims.
The Union Minister questioned Revanth Reddy’s statement that certain Union Ministers had allegedly acted on Kishan Reddy’s request to halt funding. He challenged the Chief Minister to publicly name the Minister who had made such remarks.
Metro Loan Issue Needs Technical Resolution
Kishan Reddy said the Telangana government had entered into an agreement to secure a refinancing package of around ₹13,500 crore. He stated that the matter should be resolved through consultations among all stakeholders rather than through public accusations.
He pointed out that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had met Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar several times regarding the Metro issue. During those discussions, certain modifications and clarifications were suggested.
The Union Minister stressed that the pending issues are technical in nature and require discussions between the State and Central governments. He added that projects do not stop because of an individual’s wishes and dismissed allegations that he was responsible for delaying the funding.
Kishan Reddy revealed that he spoke with Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday and said both sides still needed greater clarity regarding the loan structure and related conditions.
He maintained that issues relating to the Hyderabad Metro Phase-I refinancing loan and the Centre-State partnership for Metro Phase-II should be settled through dialogue. He accused the Chief Minister of attempting to divert public attention from the State government’s shortcomings by politicizing the issue.
The Union Minister said neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor the Central government required validation from the Congress party. He added that his accountability remained with the people of Telangana.
Highlighting the Centre’s support to Telangana, Kishan Reddy said the Union government recently sanctioned ₹11,000 crore in interest-free loans with a repayment period of 50 years. He also cited the facilitation of a ₹4,100-crore loan from the Asian Development Bank for the Musi River rejuvenation project as evidence of continued support to the State.
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