Hyderabad: Completing the Oliphanta Rail Over Bridge and Secunderabad Clock Tower by the end of September is very important for the Hyderabad Metro Rail for starting commercial operations from the month of November.
The work on the Over bridge and the bridge at Secunderabad Clock Tower are being carried out in two shifts to complete the works soon. The electric wiring works were completed from Mettududa, Allugadabavi and stopped before the Oliphanta Rail Over Bridge.
A portion of the road which caved some time ago due to ongoing Metro Rail works. The open hole was not repaired and is now filled with water and garbage causing risk to pedestrian passing by. (Photo:DC)
A ground engineer explained, “The works are now being carried out on the steel bridge. These are massive works where the tracks will be laid and it also requires caution as the road below has been opened for road traffic.” Similarly, near Secunderabad Clock Tower, works are being carried out in full swing as the train will pass from the metro track and connect to Ameerpet.
These two junctions are very critical and maximum manpower is being utilised for them. The government wants the commercial operations to be carried out from Nagole to Ameerpet, for which both these bridges have to be ready.
While the SR Nagar to Miyapur stretch is completely ready, the stretch from Nagole to Ameerpet has a lot of works which have to be completed before the deadline.
The Ameerpet intechange station which is a double level elevated station, also needs to be completed. The works at Ameerpet station are also being carried out on a war footing as both the levels have to be ready during the time of operation.
A senior officer explained, “We not only have to complete the structural works but also the electrical and technical works. The trial runs for the trains from Mettuguda to Ameerpet have to be carried out before the commercial launch. The technical team has to chart out the movement of trains and this needs to be done before the November launch.”
Ground engineers and senior staff of both L and T Metro Rail and Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited are taking daily reports of the progress of the work.
A senior officer on condition of anonymity explained, “The work reports are being analysed on a daily basis as they want to showcase maximum benefits to travellers by waiting for so long to open the stretch.” With ground staff put on this stretch, the works near Gandhi Hospital, Sultan Bazaar and MGBS bus station have slowed down as maximum labour has been shifted to complete these works.
Details of the Hyderabad Metro Rail construction
The 72-kilometre Hyderabad Metro Rail is the first public-private partnership project, which has been launched at a cost of Rs 15,000 crores.
It is going to be an integrated urban transport which will connect major bus stations and railways in the city.
The Metro is connected to Jubilee bus stand, MGBS, Secunderabad and Nampally station.
It will connect from Nagole to Hitec City and from Miyapur-Kukatpally to LB Nagar.
There are eight over-bridges, where the metro rail will be going above the railway line.
These are at Bharatnagar, Lakdikapul, Malakpet, Bhoiguda, Begumpet, Oliphenta, Chilkalguda and Alugaddabavi.
The Oliphanta Bridge is a steel structure which is a unique feature of the Hyderabad Metro Rail because such structures are usually built near rivers and has been successfully put into place.
There are a total of 64 stations, out of which six are terminal stations, three are interchanging stations, four are special stations and 54 are normal stations.
The three interchanging stations are Ameerpet, Parade Ground and MGBS.
Construction work has been carried out smoothly, without too many traffic disruptions, while the cemented segments of viaduct and pillars were prepared at Uppal and Qutubullahpur.
Works were not carried out at the construction spot. A total of 23,287 yards has been cast. The total number of pillars are 2,533 and of them 2,409 pillars have been completed.
The corridor to be inaugurated is Ameerpet to Nagole (17 kilometers) and Miyapur to Ameerpet (13 kilometers).
