Changes in Hyderabad Metro route alignment to extend length by 3 km

Hyderabad: The proposed changes in alignment of Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) are likely to increase the length of the metro rail project by around 3.2 km on one of the three corridors, a top official said on Monday.

L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH), the concessionaire, is developing the 72-km elevated metro rail project with three corridors and 66 stations.

The Telangana Government is seeking realignment in the metro route in order to bypass the Legislative Assembly building and Sultan Bazar, also on corridor-two from MGBS towards Falaknuma. The corridor-two starts from Secunderabad passing via MGBS to Falaknuma (presently) covering a distance of 15 km.

"With regard to (realignment between) Assembly building and Sultan Bazar there will be no change distance-wise. In the Old City the local representatives have suggested a different route (on MGBS-Falaknuma route) and this is likely to extend the distance by roughly 3.2 km," HMR Managing Director N V S Reddy told reporters.

Earlier, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had called for an all-party meet to discuss the proposed changes in Metro rail alignment.

"The government comes to a decision after taking into account different aspects. The proposed changes on alignment have been indicated to L&TMRH. They will take up technical and financial feasibility on the alignment changes and we will also study these things and come out with our report and both reports will be submitted to an Independent agency and on that basis compensation will be known," Reddy said.

"The CM has already said due to the changes in alignment, if there is any financial implication (likely enhanced expenditure), the Telangana government will compensate L&TMRH," Reddy added.

Reacting to a query on postings in the Metro rail project, the top HMR official said, "It is being done through campus recruitment and a French agency has been looking into this."

On the eve of World Disabled Day, an "Awareness Walk for the Disabled Persons" will be held at Necklace Road here on Tuesday by HMR in collaboration with Disabled Rights Forum, Reddy said adding that Hyderabad Metro Rail is being designed and executed as a "disabled friendly system".