Metro works make headway in Hyderabad’s old city

Hyderabad, 17 March(Maxim News): The long wait of people in the old city for Hyderabad Metro Rail services appear to be coming to an end as efforts are being intensified to take up the project in this part of the city.

The Metro old city connectivity comes under Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) Corridor II, from Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) to Falaknuma, covering a distance of 15 km. This happens to be the shortest route in all the three Metro corridors in the city. Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited is taking up the works from JBS to Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) covering a distance of about 10 km on Corridor II. The rest of the works from MGBS to Falaknuma have been stalled due to a few hurdles, especially land acquisition and political demands.

Citing clearance of several religious and historic structures, there was a demand from political parties for diverting the route via River Musi and culminating it at Falaknuma. But the demand could not be entertained citing technical and financial feasibility. Obtaining environmental clearance was also said to be one of the major factors behind opposing the diversion of the originally planned route of MGBS to Falaknuma. Following this, works on the MGBS to Falaknuma stretch were suspended by HMRL. Hyderabad Metro services were launched on November 28 last year and have been running successfully since then. This apart, works on the LB Nagar- MGBS and Ameerpet – Hitech City stretches are being taken up at brisk pace and the entire project is likely to be completed by this year end.

Considering these factors, the demand for Metro services picked up in old city as well. There were instances when resident associations and voluntary organisations staged dharnas demanding the authorities to take up Metro project works in the old city. Heeding to the pressure, political parties too appealed the government to launch the project works and assured to cooperate with the government in executing the works. With the Chief Minister
K Chandrashekhar Rao giving an assurance to AIMIM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi in the Assembly on Hyderabad Metro services in old city, new hopes have blossomed among the residents of old city.

However, there is no clarity on whether State government will be taking up the project or the existing concessionaire L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited will be continuing with it. This bears more significance as the delay in executing the works, as over 1,000 properties were identified for acquisition, has escalated the project cost substantially.