SECUNDERABAD: With arrangements being made to commence commercial operations for the Metro rail corridor between Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) and Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) on February 7, instances of Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) defaulting on payment of licence fee have come to light.
Secunderabad defence authorities are yet to receive over Rs 60 lakh as annual licence fee from HMRL. As per the agreement between HMRL and defence authorities, HMRL has to pay an annual licence fee to utilise defence land on two stretches to construct pillars and lay rail lines.
L&T HMRL had built elevated metro rail corridors by constructing pillars on two stretches (old) Begumpet airport entrance to ISKCON and from Jubilee Bus Station to YMCA X roads that fall within defence jurisdiction. The stretch between Begumpet and ISKCON is already in use while operations on second stretch are set to begin on February 7.
As per the official website of Director General Defence Estates (DGDE), if defence land is allowed to be occupied on lease or licence basis, the market value of land is assessed by a committee consisting of the defence estates officer. The Standard Table of Rents (STRs) are revised annually in fast developing Cantonments such as the Secunderabad Cantonment and triennially for other Cantonments. The same rules were applied to the deal given to HMRL and each year defence estates office serves a demand notice to HMRL regarding payment of licence fee.
“HMRL has paid annual licence fee till June 2018 but payments are due for the year 2019,” a highly placed source in defence estate office told TOI.
A demand notice has been served to HMRL authorities to furnish all the details such as length of two stretches and its jurisdiction and revised ‘standard table of rents’ (STR) stipulated by the Director General Defence Estates (DGDE).
The notice also stated that HMRL had to make the payment by June 2019. But HMRL has not responded to the notice, said sources.
Secunderabad defence authorities are yet to receive over Rs 60 lakh as annual licence fee from HMRL. As per the agreement between HMRL and defence authorities, HMRL has to pay an annual licence fee to utilise defence land on two stretches to construct pillars and lay rail lines.
L&T HMRL had built elevated metro rail corridors by constructing pillars on two stretches (old) Begumpet airport entrance to ISKCON and from Jubilee Bus Station to YMCA X roads that fall within defence jurisdiction. The stretch between Begumpet and ISKCON is already in use while operations on second stretch are set to begin on February 7.
As per the official website of Director General Defence Estates (DGDE), if defence land is allowed to be occupied on lease or licence basis, the market value of land is assessed by a committee consisting of the defence estates officer. The Standard Table of Rents (STRs) are revised annually in fast developing Cantonments such as the Secunderabad Cantonment and triennially for other Cantonments. The same rules were applied to the deal given to HMRL and each year defence estates office serves a demand notice to HMRL regarding payment of licence fee.
“HMRL has paid annual licence fee till June 2018 but payments are due for the year 2019,” a highly placed source in defence estate office told TOI.
A demand notice has been served to HMRL authorities to furnish all the details such as length of two stretches and its jurisdiction and revised ‘standard table of rents’ (STR) stipulated by the Director General Defence Estates (DGDE).
The notice also stated that HMRL had to make the payment by June 2019. But HMRL has not responded to the notice, said sources.
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