Hyderabad, Aug 23: The work on the long-pending Metro Rail connectivity to the old city of Hyderabad is likely to commence with the authorities speeding up land acquisition.
Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) is gearing up for land acquisition for the Metro between Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and Chandrayangutta.
According to NVS Reddy, Managing Director of HMRL and Hyderabad Airport Metro Limited (HAML), about 1,200 properties are getting affected by the road widening and for construction of Metro stations in this stretch of 7.5 km.
Out of these 1200 properties, notifications have been issued for 400 properties so far under the Land Acquisition Act 2013, which are being published in English, Telugu and Urdu newspapers.
Though part of the first phase of the Hyderabad Metro, the stretch from MGBS to Falaknuma could not be taken up for several years due to various reasons, mainly the narrow road and presence of several religious structures on the proposed route.
Despite several announcements and even allocations of funds in the state budget, the previous government of BRS could not take up the work.
After Congress came to power late last year, it decided to undertake the work. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy laid the foundation stone for the Old City Metro Rail project on March 8.
Revanth Reddy announced that the Metro line will be further extended from Falaknuma to Chandrayangutta , which will be developed as a major interchange station on the proposed Metro line from Nagole to Shamshabad Airport.
In July, Revanth Reddy gave an assurance in the state Assembly that the old city will get Metro Rail connectivity in four years.
The state government has allocated Rs.500 crore for Metro Rail project in Hyderabad in the budget for 2024-25.
NVS Reddy said all the 103 religious and other sensitive structures in this stretch are being protected through innovative engineering solutions and careful adjustment of Metro pillars and station locations.
The whole land acquisition process is likely to take about 8 months as per the procedures of the Land Acquisition Act.
The HMRL MD said that the road is being widened to 100 feet as per Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Master Plan. However, at Metro station locations the road is being widened to 120 feet. The current width of the road varies from 50 feet to 60 feet from Darulshifa Junction to Shalibanda Junction, while it is 80 feet from Shalibanda Junction to Chandrayangutta, he said.
The affected portion of each property in majority cases will be about 20 to 25 feet from Darulshifa to Shalibanda; and about 10 feet from Shalibanda to Chandrayangutta. However, the affected portion will increase at station locations and in stretches with deep curvature.
