L&T Group desires to exit from Rs 18000 crore Hyderabad Metro Rail undertaking

(Hyderabad Metro)

Hyderabad, India (City Transport Information): The present operator L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Restricted, a subsidary compnay of main infrastfructure Larsen & Tourbo Ltd (L&T) is now planning to exit from Rs 18,000 crore Hyderabad Metro Rail, the world’s largest metro rail undertaking executed in public-private-partnership mannequin. With this, L&T Group can also be planning to maneuver away from non-core companies.

The tight monetary place that the mega undertaking is in and the mounting losses are additionally mentioned to be forcing the infrastructure behemoth to discover the exit possibility.

Talikng concerning the exit plan, Subrahmanyan, Chief Govt Officer, and Managing Director, L&T, mentioned:

We have now invested within the Hyderabad Metro and the undertaking has been accomplished in a really environment friendly approach, very fantastically carried out and loads of worldwide acclaims have come for that, however we’re not operators of the metro. So, we wish to divest it sooner or later.

Henceforth, the L&T Group intends to focus on its core enterprise areas of EPC initiatives, defence manufacturing and IT providers.

It has been learnt that as part of its technique to exit from non-core companies, L&T offered its electrical and automation enterprise to Schneider Electrical for Rs 14,000 crore. Subsequent within the line for the divestment are L&T Infrastructure Improvement Tasks Restricted and L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Restricted. The L&T group is planning to make use of proceeds from these divestments for future investments.

As per Annual Report of L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Restricted, the metro operator suffered a internet lack of Rs 382 crore within the FY 2019-20. Its complete revenues stood at Rs 1,370 crore. The corporate reported a internet lack of Rs 149 crore on a income of Rs 1,634 crore within the earlier monetary 12 months. It has liabilities of over Rs 16,000 crore.

It has additionally been learnt that the continued Covid-19 pandemic compounded the mega undertaking’s monetary woes. The Hyderabad Metro has misplaced over Rs 300 crore on account of Covid-induced lockdown which lasted for 170 days. Although it resumed operations final month, the passenger site visitors is but to achieve pre-Covid ranges.

“To beat the massive monetary burden on us, and for some respite, we’re exploring totally different choices with all associated stakeholders. Resulting from Covid-19, HMR operations have been suspended for about 170 days. Presently, our prime focus is to proceed operations adhering to security norms,” mentioned spokesperson of L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Restricted, the Hand India reported.