Revanth calls for speedy airport Metro works

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday directed Hyderabad Metro Rail officials to route two lines to the Shamshabad Airport Metro, one from MGBS via Old City and the second from LB Nagar, duly bridging the gap of five kilometres from Nagole to the LB Nagar Metro Rail stations.

Revanth Reddy also directed officials to put on hold the BRS’ Raidurg-Airport 31-kilometre Metro plan, proposed to cost Rs 6,250 crore, citing the availability of wide roads on the ORR.

The Chief Minister instructed Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL) managing director N.V.S. Reddy to expeditiously get the traffic studies and DPRs (detailed project reports) done for the revised airport Metro alignment via Old City and from LB Nagar.

He also directed the HMRL chief to examine the feasibility of laying a part of the Metro in the Laxmiguda-Jalpally-Mamidipally stretch ‘At Grade’ (road level) in the new alignment, since a 40-foot-wide central median without any obstruction was available on this stretch. “This can reduce the cost of Metro Rail construction,” he said.

The developments came at a review of Metro projects at the Secretariat, wherein HMRL officials provided detailed presentations, following which the Chief Minister said that expansion proposals should cater to major parts of the city and serve the maximum number of commuters. In this regard, he asked the HMRL chief to refine the Phase-II proposals in coordination with the HMDA commissioner.

Revanth Reddy also instructed MA&UD principal secretary and HMDA commissioner M. Dana Kishore and CMO principal secretary V. Seshadri to identify large extents of government land available along this stretch to undertake transit-oriented development (TOD). He said this could fund a part of the airport Metro project, as well as encourage the development of the Old City and its surroundings, given that the new alignment will result in shorter distances and cost savings for commuters, besides catering to an increased number of localities.

The Chief Minister also directed N.V.S. Reddy to prepare plans for Metro extensions to facilitate the all-round growth of the city.

Proposals were sought for multiple routes, including Miyapur-Chandanagar-BHEL-Patancheruvu (14 km), MGBS-Falaknuma-Chandrayanagutta-Mailardevpalli-P7 Road-airport (23 km), Nagole–LB Nagar-Owaisi Hospital-Chandrayanagutta-Mailardevepalli-Aramgarh-New High Court site at Rajendranagar on NH (adjacent to Agricultural University main gate) (19 km), extension of Corridor-III from Raidurg station to Financial District (Wipro lake Jn/American consulate) via Biodiversity Jn, IIIT Jn and ISB road (12 km), and LB Nagar-Vansathalipuram-Hayathnagar (8 km).

The HMRL chief and HMDA commissioner were directed to coordinate for preparing integrated plans and draft a letter to the Union urban development minister Hardeep Singh Puri in the next few days. They were also instructed to incorporate the Musi riverfront Taramatipet to Narsingi via Nagole and MGBS (40 km) Metro extension.

Revanth Reddy instructed all senior officers to prepare a comprehensive master plan to cater to the fast-growing needs of Hyderabad city and to plan dispersed growth hubs all along the ORR.

“Further, Metro rail connectivity from airport area to Kandukur on Srisailam highway shall be planned, where a mega township can be created on the land already acquired for the Pharma City,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that Metro Phase-III plans shall cover expansion from JBS Metro Station to Shamirpet, and from Paradise Metro Station to Kandlakoya/Medchal.

On HMRL’s proposal to widen the road from Darulshifa junction to Shalibanda junction in the Old City Metro Rail alignment, the Chief Minister called for a feasibility study for widening the road to 100 feet, in consultation with public representatives from Old City.

He said that this could open up the Old City to rapid development, on a par with the other parts of the city.

The Chief Minister, however, told officials that road widening should not disrupt any of the 103 religious and heritage structures in Old City, and if required, he would personally inspect the site in coordination with Old City representatives.