KTR says better road facilities connecting metro, MMTS will be developed on par with international standards

Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister KT Rama Rao said footpaths and better road facilities connecting metro, MMTS, bus and railway stations in Hyderabad will be developed on par with international standards.

World over, there is increased awareness on utilisation of public transport facilities. In cities like Mumbai, 72 per cent of people use public transport system but it is just 34 per cent in Hyderabad and this needs to be increased, he said.

In a meeting here on Thursday, the Minister, said that utilisation of private transportation is improving. In the last five years, however, the number of vehicles increased from 73 lakh to 1.20 crore, he said adding that reforms will be introduced in the transport system to encourage people to use public transport extensively.

To this effect, enhancing connectivity facilities to MMTS, metro, railway and bus stations will be worked out. Similarly, provision of better



walkways, bicycle paths, sufficient parking facilities will be developed, he informed. Utilising private open spaces for parking facilities and developing open spaces in layouts to construct public toilets, bus shelters, will be taken up extensively, he said.

Regarding Comprehensive Road Maintenance programme (CRM) under which private agencies will be entrusted with the responsibility of road maintenance, he said recarpeting of 50 per cent of 709 kms road network will be taken in the first year. This will be followed with 30 per cent of roads in the second year and the rest during third year. Maintenance of the entire 709 kms roads will be taken up during the last two years.

Agencies will be solely responsible for road cutting, executing cable works, drainage works and for other utilities works. They will have their own traffic consultant and provide better facilities by utilising latest technology, he explained.