The Telangana state government is eyeing land belonging parking facilities for a few hyderabad metro rail stations and to up model markets

Hyderabad: The Telangana state government is eyeing land belonging to government schools to create parking facilities for a few Hyderabad Metro Rail stations and to set up model markets.

The government recently took over an acre of land belonging to the Kukat-pally government school and handed it over to Kukatpally Metro station. Official sources said the government was now eying land of government schools located in Musheerabad, Himayatnagar, Kacheguda, Begumpet and Nampally.

Teachers’ unions are upset with the government’s move which they say will weaken the schools instead of strengthening them to check commercialisation of education.

Hyderabad Metro Rail is constructing 65 stations in three corridors. It has been able to find parking areas 17 so far. Since all these stations are located in prime locations, it has become difficult for Metro officials to find parking for the remaining 48 stations.

Acquiring private properties will impose a heavy financial burden on the government since land in these locations cost from Rs 30,000 per sq. yard to over Rs 1 lakh per sq. yard.

HMR asked for parking in schools
The proposal of taking over lands in government schools was floated by Metro officials, which was approved by the government. Fearing a backlash from teachers’ unions and students’ organisations, the government is taking up the process quietly without issuing any official orders or circulars.

The issue came to light after the government recently took over one acre of land belonging to the government school in Kukatpally and handed it over to Kukatpally Metro station.

In addition, the GHMC had sought government school lands at 20 locations to set up model markets. “GHMC’s proposals have already been rejected. There is pressure to allot lands for stations since Metro Rail operations cannot be taken up unless parking is provided,” said an official of the education department.

Teachers’ unions expressed ire at the government’s move. “We will oppose this strongly. It will be a disturbance for teachers and students if parking is provided on school premises. The government on one hand talks of strengthening government schools to check commercialisation of education, but on the other hand it is taking steps which will weaken these schools further,” said PRTU leader G. Harshvardhan Reddy.


http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/090916/telangana-eyes-schools-for-metro-parking.html