Title - Hyderabad Metro charged up

Hyderabad: With the approval accorded by the Union Cabinet to extend Metro Rail operations to the Shamshabad international airport with an expenditure of Rs 3,275 crore, the second phase of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project has received a boost.

State government and HMR officials are now gearing up to secure approvals for the extension of Metro Rail services to seven other routes spread over 85 km, as part of the second phase of the project. Officials propose to extend operations by 97 km in the second phase.

The HMR project, considered to be the world’s largest project under public-private partnership, with investments of over `17,000 crore, has been attracting international attention ever since it was announced in 2010.

Work of the first phase of the HMR project has been progressing at a brisk pace at various locations across the city. The first stage of the Metro Rail operations between Nagole and Mettuguda is scheduled to be launched by April 2015.

At present, the first phase of the HMR project is being taken up in three corridors spread over 72 km. Corridor-II from Jubilee Bus Station, Secunderabad to Falaknuma is being taken up over 14.78 km. The Centre’s approval to extend the route from Falaknuma to Shamshabad airport will increase the distance by 12 km to 26.78 km.

Corridor-I from Miyapur to LB Nagar stretches over 28.87 km, while Corridor-III from Nagole to Shilparamam covers 27.51 km.

N.V.S. Reddy, managing director of HMR, said that LEA Associates-South Asia, a Canadian consultancy firm, which has been selected as traffic consultant for the HMR project, has been conducting a study to assess traffic volume on the routes being proposed for the second phase and will submit a report in five-six months. He said that a decision on the second phase of the HMR project will be taken based on this report.

The routes being proposed for the second phase of the project include Miyapur-BHEL-Patancheru (15 km), Falaknuma-Shamshabad (12 km), LB Nagar -Vanasthalipuram (4 km), Nagole-LB Nagar-Falaknuma (15 km), JNTU, Kukatpally-Shilparamam-Gachibowli (14 km), JBS, Secunderabad-Alwal (8 km), Gachibowli-Tolichowki-Lakdikapul (17 km) and Mettuguda-ECIL via Malkajgiri (12 km).

Of these, the Centre has already approved the Falaknuma-Shamshabad route, which will be taken up along radial road no. 29.

Good times ahead as HMR irons out issues

Though Metro Rail officials initially had a tough time launching the first phase of the HMR project due to stiff opposition from various quarters, most issues have now been ironed out.

While it took almost two years to launch works after getting approval from the Central and state governments, the project has now started getting positive response from the citizens.

The series of initiatives taken up by both the HMR and the concessionaire L&TMRHL by involving the general public has created a “positive image” for the project and people who had initially opposed the Metro Rail have now started demanding extension of services to their localities.

Initially, there were apprehensions about losing a large number of properties, both private and government, besides a threat to heritage structures in the city. However, the HMR officials succeeded in convincing the public that there would be no damage to even a single heritage structure.

Owners too came forward to handover their properties after the HMR came out with an attractive relief and rehabilitation package by offering compensation as per market rates for the first time ever.

Barring a small stretch between Sultan Bazaar and Badi Chowdi and in Krishnanagar, there isn’t much resistance to Metro Rail works at present. Though there are some issues in the Old City from the MIM’s end, officials expect them to be resolved before commencing the works there.

Both the HMR and the L&TMRHL have been holding competitions and debates on the need and importance of the Metro Rail project for Hyderabad and the strategy has worked.

With traffic woes in the city worsening every passing day, people are keen to have Metro Rail operations in their localities. Besides this, rising fuel prices and health issues have also been prompting people to opt for a safe and comfortable travel initiative like the Metro, which has been a huge success in Delhi and other international cities.