Hyderabad Metro Rail told to work on RTS

Hyderabad: The state government wants Hyderabad Metro Rail to complete 5 km of the rapid transport system (RTS) from Nagole to LB Nagar in the second phase of the project. The government also wants Metro Rail connectivity to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Sham-shabad to be completed. This was conveyed by government officials to Hyderabad Metro Rail managing director N.V.S. Reddy at a meeting on Saturday.

With the state government beginning discussions on Phase II of the Metro Rail, there is an immediacy to fill the the gaps in the first phase. Corridor I from Miyapur to LB Nagar and Corridor III from Nagole to Shilparamam have to be connected. Corridor III requires to be extended to the Shamshabad international airport from Raidurg.

According to an official with Hyderabad Metro Rail, the government is carrying out techno-feasibility studies. The government is keen to look at a different model of funding. In Phase I, Larsen & Turbo is the concessionaire of the project and they will operate it. In the phase II, “the government wants to weigh various options.

Asked about the government’s plans, Mr N.V.S. Reddy said, “There are initial discussions and deliberations going on to explore different options to raise financial resources which is part of every project.” He said the next phase envisaged inter-modal integration between metro stations, railway terminals, bus terminals and other modes of transport.