L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Ltd. has commissioned a 16-km stretch of elevated metro, on the third corridor of the metro network.
With the commissioning of the stretch between Ameerpet and LB Nagar, the Hyderabad metro now has an operational network of 45 km, making it the second longest Metro line after New Delhi. In November 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had commissioned a 29-km network across two corridors.
Flagging off the metro train and travelling in it, Telangana Governor ESL Narasimhan urged people to move away from personal transport and take to the environment-friendly metro rail network.
Later, he bicycled from Khairatabad station to Raj Bhavan along with KT Rama Rao, State Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development.
Narasimhan said, he has travelled in Metros around the world and Hyderabad Metro is one of the best. He hopes that Hyderabadis will make full use of this world-class facility and this will help make it a world class city.
While the Governor called upon the concessionaire L&T to complete the stretch connecting Hitec City, the IT hub of Hyderabad, by December 15, some right of way issues may delay the completion of this stretch by a couple of months, sources explained. The Rs. 14,132-crore Hyderabad metro is being developed under the PPP (public, private partnership) model, with the Centre pitching in with a viability gap funding (VGF) of Rs. 1,458 crore and the Telangana government investing about Rs. 3,000 crore for land acquisition, right of way, and related infrastructure.
Following delays in the right of way, the project cost is projected to shoot up by over Rs. 3,000 crore, which the concessionaire and the government will have to sort out. Of the 72-km elevated Metro rail across three corridors, two corridors will be completed early next year.
The third corridor, between Secunderabad and Old City, is likely to be delayed further, as a stretch of about 6 km that runs in the Old City beyond the Musi river is stuck in right of way issues.
The Minister said, this was not just another metro in the making but a rejuvenation project for the world class city. While it has already received Platinum rating by the Indian Green Building Council, once it gets fully commissioned, it will transform the public transport network in the city.
NVS Reddy, Managing Director, Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd, said, Hyderabad metro is the second largest metro network after Delhi and the world's longest metro network under the PPP mode projects. It is a robust mass transit system which is being used to transform the city into a people friendly green city.
KVB Reddy, MD and CEO of L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Ltd, said, The Metro marks the beginning of seamless commuting in Hyderabad. The inauguration of the 16 km stretch is another significant milestone in their endeavour.
