Ministry to convene meeting on GMR exiting Rs 7,500 cr project

The company has exited from the Rs 7,500 crore project due to delay in statutory approvals and the issue would be discussed and could be solved amicably, the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways told PTI.

Sathyanarayana, here to participate in 73rd Annual Session of Indian Roads Congress, said if need be, he would also discuss the matter with GMR and others since road projects were very important for the development of the country.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has laid out a plan for constructing 17,000 km of roads in another two years, he said.

On the reported fleecing at toll gates, the minister said he would look into the issue and the government will not allow the contractors take undue advantage of the common man.

He also assured to exempt mediapersons from paying toll at such booths after discussing the issue with his senior colleague.

To a question on the arrest of MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi on his reported 'hate speech', Sathyanarayana said, "I do not know what prompted him to speak like that. Anyhow the law has taken its own course."

On creation of Telangana, he said Congress president Sonia Gandhi wanted the issue to be solved within the shortest possible time.

Noting that the Congress was not against creation of smaller states, which would expedite development, Sathyanarayana claimed Telangana would become reality soon and it was only a matter of time.

When asked whether he expected TRS leader Chandrasekhar Rao to return to Congress, he claimed Rao has given an assurance of winding up TRS and returning to Congress, after achieving the Telangana goal.