The Union government said the Hyderabad Metro Rail project would be showcased as a model for other public transport and infrastructure projects. The Union joint secretary for investments, Mr Sidhartha Pradhan, who reviewed the progress of the Metro Rail project here on Monday said the bidding process of the project reflected a win-win situation for both the government and the private developer.

He congratulated the HMR managing director, Mr N.V.S. Reddy, and said the agreement would pave the way for development of largescale infrastructure projects in the country. Metro Rail officials said work would begin as per schedule with the cooperation of civic bodies. Shifting of utility services will begin very shortly so that the actual work would start in the first quarter of 2009.Mr Pradhan's observations assumed significance in the backdrop of the comments of the Delhi Metro Rail chief, Mr E. Sreedharan, who had reportedly raised doubts over the motive of the developer and said the further expansion of the Metro Rail would lead to real estate business in Hyderabad. The state government reacted swiftly and said the exchequer would receive around Rs 30, 000 crore over a period of 30 years with the agreement.

The government snapped ties with the Delhi Metro Rail officials after the controversy and threatened to file a defamation suit against Mr Sreedharan. The issue subsided with the intervention of the Centre which had reportedly asked officials of both the Hyderabad and Delhi Metro Rail authorities to maintain calm.

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