Title - HMDA, HMR asked to work together on Metro's extension plans

HMDA, HMR told to jointly develop a master plan for future Metro Rail extensions in the extended HMDA area, keeping the future needs of the fast-expanding city in mind

Chief Secretary P.K. Mohanty on Friday advised HMDA Commissioner Neerabh Kumar Prasad and HMR Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy to jointly develop a master plan for the future Metro Rail extensions in the extended HMDA area keeping the future needs of fast expanding Hyderabad city in mind.He said that Metro Rail, MMTS, National and State highways and major bus depots should be integrated and a transit-oriented development approach should be adopted. The CS was conducting the Special Task Force (STF) meeting to assess the progress of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project.Earlier, HMR MD N.V.S. Reddy made a presentation to senior officials of STF where he explained that the project was jetting ahead with 780 foundations (21 km), 625 pillars (17.5 km), 3,700 segments (sufficient for 11 km) completed and elevated viaduct has been erected over 4.5 km. He has mentioned that 70 per cent of Uppal depot works and 40 per cent Miyapur depot works have also been completed.Following the presentation, Mr. Mohanty called upon the GHMC and Collectors of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts to speed up acquisition of properties in the critical stretches for road widening in metro corridors for the ‘Right of Way’ and for a smooth flow of traffic during the construction.

Concessionaire L&TMRHL was told to finish foundations and pillar erection works in critical stretches in the core areas besides also reducing the barricade widths within a couple of months.

Traffic police was instructed to accord permission for more work fronts wherever two lanes are available on either side after barricading.

Both, the HMR and L&TMRHL have to carryout road improvement works and adopt traffic management solutions, including diversion of traffic to alternate routes, etc. Same goes to R&B and NH authorities too for road restoring works since the cost was being borne by the HMR.

The APCPDCL was urged to furnish estimates for 231 electrical poles, 28 distribution transformers and 30 other electrical installations while APTransco has to complete substations at Uppal and Miyapur depots as per schedule. The defence authorities have been asked to expedite the handing over of three acres of land to HMR after allocation of suitable encumbrance free land by the R.R. district Collector.

The HMR has offered to pay market rates for railway lands and sought fast approvals to the engineering designs for taking up construction of eight metro rail crossings over the existing railway lines. There were also pending shift of water and sewer lines.

MA&UD Principal Secretary B.Sam Bob, R&B Principal Secretary S.P Singh, Revenue Principal Secretary B.R Meena, GHMC Commissioner M.T Krishna Babu, Water Board MD J. Syamala Rao, Finance Secretary L. Premchandra Reddy, Hyderabad Collector S.A.M. Rizvi, Cyberabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand, L&TMRHL MD V.B. Gadgil and other senior officers of various Central and State departments/organisations participated.