Title - Under-construction Hyderabad Metro faces local hurdles

L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd, now executing one of the largest public-private-partnership (PPP) projects in the country, is passing through a busy phase as it seeks to accelerate pace of project implementation and mammoth construction work.The Rs 16,500-crore elevated metro rail project, spanning 72 km across three dense corridors of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, is saddled with challenges of securing ‘right-of-way’ along some of the busy commercial establishments.These bottlenecks are not so much for the developer since the ball is in the Government’s court and it needs to address these issues as a partner in the project.The Andhra Pradesh Government has earmarked about Rs 2,000 crore for spending related to land acquisition (for 269 acres) and other facilitation works. While most of the acquisition of major chunks of land at terminal points has been completed, the acquisition of properties along some of the busy commercial roads is still a matter of concern.

RESISTANCE

In the busy corridor that heads towards the IT hub of Hyderabad, land acquisition in the Ameerpet stretch and in the corridor passing through the Old City that touches the busy market junction of Sultan Bazar, have been troublesome. The local traders are against the project. To add to these issues, there are a few religious structures, including an Iskcon temple, which need to be acquired.

Members of the Secunderabad unit of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) have decided to launch a protest movement against the proposal to acquire 1,600 square yards of the temple land.

With metro barricades being erected at more busy junctions for construction of piers, restricting pathways, the traffic movement, too, has been adversely affected. The monsoon has further added to the commuters’ woes.

However, no escape route from these problems is likely to emerge for the next two years.

HIGHER COMPENSATION

Farmers in the Uppal region of the metro project have been calling for higher compensation.

Commercial establishments are opposing the project passing through busy areas as they feel they will be put out of business. Will the State Government come around to higher compensation? Only time will tell.

During a recent interaction, V.B. Gadgil, Chief Executive and Managing Director of L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail, said, “As a construction partner our role is to execute the work with minimum inconvenience to the public. The land acquisition and right of way have to be handled by the Government.”

N.V.S. Reddy, Managing Director of Hyderabad metro rail, has also expressed confidence that the acquisition-related issues will be tackled by taking people into confidence and giving them adequate compensation.

Most of the right-of-way issues have been cleared and needs to be addressed only in some busy areas.

But till the phase one of the Hyderabad metro rail, spanning a stretch of 8 km, gets operational by early 2015, people will have to wait for that elevated experience. The entire project is expected to be completed by early 2017.