No Proposal Yet For Vijayawada Metro Rail: Centre

New Delhi: Responding to YSR Congress party (YSRCP) MP Vijayasai Reddy's query on the status of Vijayawada Metro Rail, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, during Thursday's Rajya Sabha session said the Andhra Pradesh government did not make any such proposal to the Centre.

No proposal was sent by the State government after the Centre in September, 2017 sought a proposal for the Metro Rail project as per the new guidleines of the revised Metro Rail policy, he clarified.

"Urban transportation is an element of the town planning framework, which is completely a State subject. The State governments have the responsibility to provide the basic amenities related to urban transportation," he concluded.

Responding to another query raised by Vijayasai Reddy in the Upper House, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. Satya Pal Singh said a majority of primary schools across the country were running in compliance with the Right To Education (RTE). The RTE requires schools to have sound buildings, a classroom per a teacher, an convenient entrance to the school, separate toilets for boys and girls, a kitchen in school premises to cater to the midday meals scheme, a playground within the premises and a compound wall, he explained.

The Union Minister further explained the role of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) in implementing the RTE. Since the SSA's rollout in 2001, 4,455 primary schools have been started, 70,204 classrooms and 36,906 toilets have been built. SSA provided for drinking water facilities in 7,143 schools.

Also Read: YSRCP Flays Chandrababu For Absurd Claims