Telangana will set up steel plant

HYDERABAD: The Telangana government would set up a steel plant in the state, a project which has been mentioned in the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act, even if the Centre did not cooperate, state Industries Minister K T Rama Rao said today.nn”Even if the Centre does not cooperate, 100 per cent the Telangana government will build the steel plant under Singareni (state-run miner Singareni Collieries) and TSMDC. We will give 10,000-15,000 jobs there. That is our commitment,” he told reporters here.nnThe state government on June 18 constituted a committee of officials to examine the issue of setting up an Integrated Steel Plant in Khammam district.nnThe establishment of a steel plant in Telangana is an issue mentioned in the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act.nnThe main opposition Congress and others have recently held protests in support of setting up of the steel plant in the Khammam region following reports that the Centre was not favourably inclined to execute it.nnThe minister was speaking after inspecting Hyderabad Metro Rail works on the 16-km stretch between Ameerpet and LB Nagar, part of the first phase.nnIt would be ready for operations by the end of July, he said.nnThe patronage to the Hyderabad Metro Rail had been good (with an average 80,000 travellers every day) since the first stretch was inagurated seven months ago, he said adding there were no major complaint over the operations, Rao said.nnThe 30-km long first leg of the Hyderabad Metro rail, inaugurated in Novemeber last year between Miyapur and Nagole, has 24 stations.nnElectric charging infrastructure would be set up at the metro stations to promote electric vehicles, Rao said.nnThe Detailed Project Report (DPR) of second phase of metro project was expected to be ready by July, the minister said.nnThe vision was to link the Hyderabad international airport from all corners of the city through the metro rail, he added.nnSource: Press Trust of India