Airport metro progressing at a brisk pace

HYDERABAD: To expedite grounding of airport metro works, several pre-construction activities have been taken up simultaneously, said N.V.S. Reddy, managing director of Hyderabad Airport Metro Ltd (HAML).

While the last date for submission of bids for general consultant (GC) is January 20, survey work to fine tune Metro Rail track alignment and station locations is in full swing. Use of satellite-based differential global positioning system (DGPS) and electronic total station with built-in programs will assure precise survey inputs and capturing accurate coordinates.

The survey has so far covered 21 km up to Fort Grand underpass near Shamshabad town. It will be completed by the end of the month-end. Thereafter, peg marking of the alignment will start, Reddy said.

While the the detailed project report has followed the traditional railway engineering method to identify possible station locations, an innovative approach is now being adopted by taking cognisance of the massive commercial and residential developments in Nanakramguda, financial district, Kokapet, Narsingi, Rajendranagar and Shamshabad. HMDA’s master plan for this side of the city and its outskirts will determine the locations.

This is in tune with Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's vision to widen the city’s growth into the outskirts and provide affordable housing so as to reduce travel time of the office-goers, he said.

“We are actively involving local police for traffic surveys. It is helping us to identify ideal locations for stations,” Reddy said.