Doubt over Hyderabad’s date with Metro

Hyderabad: The scheduled inauguration date for the Nagole to Mettuguda stretch of the Hyderabad Metro is March 21, but no one seems to know whether the deadline will be met.

Mr N.V.S. Reddy, managing director of Hyderabad Metro Rail, said, “I can’t comment on it. The state government has to decide on that.”

While Hyderabad Metro Rail is non-committal, works at the ground level are going on in full swing with Larsen & Toubro giving the final touches.

Mr V. B. Gadgil, managing director of Larsen & Toubro Hyderabad Metro Rail, said, “The project has works which are to be completed according to the schedule. We are following that.”
They are, however, mum on the subject of inauguration.

A senior officer of Hyderabad Metro Rail said, “The scheduled date to start on March 21, 2015, had been set long ago. So far, the government has not mentioned anything.

They are also silent on this aspect, which means that they too will follow the schedule. If there was any attempt to postpone the same there would have been some government orders. But so far, nothing has come which means that the ground people have to continue with their work.”

There are, meanwhile, too many things at stake. Another officer explained, “The railway safety clearance certificate has to come from the Centre and this requires to be expedited by the state government. At the same time, protocols have to be set in place, which would require proper planning. Lack of clarity has resulted in major confusion and also speculation.”