Land acquisition delays Hyderabad Metro Rail

Hyderabad: Work on the Metro Rail from Ameerpet to Hitec City, an 8.5 km stretch, is being speeded up to meet the June 2018 deadline, according to managing director of Hyderabad Metro Rail, N.V.S. Reddy. But sources in the government say that acquisition of properties has still not been done and so it will be difficult to meet the deadline.

Five pillars in Yousufguda are being taken up on the left hand side, as the Hero Honda Building is being demolished. Twenty-one spans of a viaduct have to be completed in Yousufguda. Two spans of the viaduct are in the slums, nine in Krishn-anagar, two near Tran-stroy building, and eight near Sirisampada Apartments in Jubilee Hills.

While HMR is planning to complete these spans, L&T officials have to find the right space and also the permission to carry out the work. A senior officer on condition of anonymity said, “All the government departments have to come in and ensure that the acquisition is carried out; then only we will have the right way to carry out the work. Work on the foundations and pillar will not be completed before June because the acquisition is a challenge.”

The land acquisition and town planning department have to facilitate construction by acquiring the properties at the street level for entry and exit points at Peddamma temple, Madhapur and Durgam Cheruvu Metro stations.

According to a senior officer, “The Durgam Cheruvu Station is ready but where is the place to set up the staircase? The shops at street level have still not been acquired,” he said.

The further extension of 1.5 km till Raidurg is also being worked out with L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad where 49 pillars have to be erected. The challenge here is that the crafts village Shilparamam has to be protected and the Metro viaduct near Cyber Towers has to be redesigned. The viaduct will be between Cyber Towers and Hitec City. It will take one-and-a-half years for the work up to Raidurg to be completed, stated sources.